What is the cost of living in Port Arthur, TX?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Port Arthur has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Texas, Port Arthur has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Texas's index of 93.
The standard of living in Port Arthur ranks as #45 most affordable out of the 419 places we measured in Texas. By definition, that implies Port Arthur ranks as the #374 most expensive place in the Lone Star State.
For more reading on life in Port Arthur, check out:
Port Arthur Cost Of Living Vs. Texas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Port Arthur. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Port Arthur is 99.
The Groceries index in Port Arthur is 97.
The Health index in Port Arthur is 52.
The Housing index in Port Arthur is 97.
The Transportation index in Port Arthur is 103.
The Utilities index in Port Arthur is 98.
| Living Expense | Port Arthur | Texas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 93 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 52 | 81 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 100 | 100 |
Port Arthur Cost Of Living Compared To Texas Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Texas, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Port Arthur Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Port Arthur, TX Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Texas, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Port Arthur is $119,804.
The Median Rent in Port Arthur is $1,021.
The Median Income in Port Arthur is $46,354.
The Home Value To Income in Port Arthur is 2.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Port Arthur is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Port Arthur | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $119,804 | $300,957 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,021 | $1,403 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $46,354 | $78,476 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.6x | 3.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.21x | 0.21x |
Port Arthur, TX Costs By Category
Detailed Port Arthur Services costs vs. Texas
| Item | Port Arthur | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.16 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.93 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.17 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.22 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $46.89 | $45.56 |
Detailed Port Arthur Groceries costs vs. Texas
| Item | Port Arthur | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.37 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.49 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.66 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.17 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.99 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.23 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.66 | $3.7 |
Detailed Port Arthur Health costs vs. Texas
| Item | Port Arthur | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $119.32 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $87.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $104.52 | $113.29 |
Detailed Port Arthur Transportation costs vs. Texas
| Item | Port Arthur | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.06 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.89 | $59.92 |
Detailed Port Arthur Utilities costs vs. Texas
| Item | Port Arthur | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $214.33 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $209.24 | $192.25 |
Port Arthur SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Port Arthur
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Port Arthur. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Beaumont, TX has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Port Arthur.
Sulphur, LA has a cost of living index of 93, 1.1x Port Arthur.
Orange, TX has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Port Arthur.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Port Arthur |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaumont, TX | 113,279 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Sulphur, LA | 20,775 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Orange, TX | 19,177 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Nederland, TX | 18,381 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Groves, TX | 16,976 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Lumberton, TX | 13,963 | 99 | 1.2x |
| Port Neches, TX | 13,664 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Vidor, TX | 9,708 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Prien, LA | 7,119 | 113 | 1.3x |








