Conroe is a medium-sized city located in the Lone Star State. It is the 44th largest community in Texas with a population of 89,956 people and 46 constituent neighborhoods. Recently, it has been observed that new real estate developments are being built around the city – an indication that people are choosing to move to this area and investing in brand new construction.
Are you considering moving to Conroe, TX? One of the things you will need to consider is its affordability and knowing the cost of living in this city will greatly help you decide.
What is Cost of Living?
Simply put, cost of living is the amount of money necessary to cover an individual’s basic expenses in a particular location and time period. This includes housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous expenses.
Information about the cost of living of a specific place is often used to compare the affordability of living in this location compared to a person’s current place of residence. Learning about the cost of living indexes is particularly helpful if you are considering relocating to a different city, state, or county. This can help you assess if your plans of moving would be beneficial for you and your family given your projected income.
The Overall Cost of Living in Conroe
Overall, in terms of cost of living, Conroe, TX is an affordable city to live in, with a COL index of 94.9. This index is based on a national average of 100. Given that this index is lower than 100, it means that the overall cost of living in Conroe is lower than the national average.
The table below shows the cost of living indexes for the basic expenses in Conroe, TX, along with those of Houston and the state of Texas.
Cost of Living Index: Conroe, Texas
| Cost of Living | Conroe | Houston | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94.9 | 96.5 | 93.9 |
| Grocery | 97.3 | 98.1 | 93.7 |
| Health | 95.6 | 92.4 | 95.4 |
| Housing | 91.4 | 80.2 | 84.3 |
| Utilities | 98.7 | 96.5 | 99.2 |
| Transportation | 92.3 | 119 | 103.3 |
| Miscellaneous | 99.6 | 100.4 | 96.4 |
Notice that all the COL indexes for Conroe are lower than 100. This is rare, and it shows just how affordable it is to live in Conroe, Texas. Cost of living indexes, in general, would show a few expenses as higher than the national average, such as the case for the state COL index for transportation.
To expand our cost of living comparison, El Paso, TX to Conroe, TX indexes in the table below show an overall COL of only 81.4. This is not surprising as the Sun City is recognized as the city with the lowest cost of living in the nation.
COL Index: El Paso, TX
| Overall | Grocery | Health | Housing | Utilities | Transportation | Miscellaneous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81.4 | 93.7 | 86.7 | 56.5 | 97.1 | 91.9 | 93.8 |
Housing Costs in Conroe, TX
In Conroe, Texas, housing costs are almost 10% below the national average. The median home price is $323,495 which is most probably the reason why 54.5% of its population are homeowners. Median monthly rent is $988.20. Check out the table below for more information on rental prices in Conroe.
| Monthly Rent in Conroe, TX | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom Apartment in City Center | $1,295.00 |
| 1-bedroom Apartment Outside of Center | $933.33 |
| 3-bedroom Apartment in City Center | $2,500.00 |
| 3-bedroom Apartment Outside of Center | $2,200.00 |
| Price per Square Meter to Buy an Apartment in City Center | $10,710.09 |
| Price per Square Meter to Buy an Apartment Outside of Center | $8,072.93 |
The Cost of Utilities in Conroe, TX
Utilities is one of the larger monthly expenses for most American families and Conroe is no exception, with a COL index of 98.7 for utilities.
| Utilities in Conroe, TX | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Utility Bill for 1 person (electricity, heating, water, etc.) | $151 |
| Utility Bill for a Family (electricity, heating, water, etc.) | $229 |
| Internet plan for 1 month (50 Mbps+, unlimited) | $102 |
Food and Grocery Expenses in Conroe, TX
The COL index for grocery in Conroe, TX is 97. That’s 3% less than the national average of $450 (the average monthly grocery bill), which gives residents about $160 in annual savings.
Food Expenses in Conroe, TX
| Item | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | $15.50 |
| Three-Course Meal for 2 People at a Mid-Range Restaurant | $45.00 |
| Combo Meal at a Fast Food Restaurant | $7.67 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5-liter draught) | $4.00 |
| Imported Beer (0.33-liter bottle) | $4.00 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | $4.78 |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33-liter bottle) | $1.66 |
| Water (0.33-liter bottle) | $1.35 |
Cost of Groceries in Conroe, TX
| Item | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 liter) | $0.87 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | $3.04 |
| Eggs (regular, 12) | $3.94 |
| Rice (white, 1kg) | $3.86 |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | $8.99 |
| Beef Round Back Leg Red Meat (1kg) | $10.88 |
| Apples (1kg) | $4.19 |
| Banana (1kg) | $1.68 |
| Oranges (1kg) | $3.77 |
| Tomato (1kg) | $3.73 |
| Potato (1kg) | $2.56 |
| Onion (1kg) | $2.58 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | $1.37 |
| Water (1.5-liter bottle) | $1.62 |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $13.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5-liter bottle) | $5.71 |
| Imported Beer (0.33-liter bottle) | $5.75 |
Cost of Health Care Expenses in Conroe, TX
The COL index for healthcare costs in Conroe, Texas, is 96. The average bill for having a consultation with a doctor in Conroe is $128.44, within the range of $100 to $200 on the national level.
| Visit to a Medical Professional | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| General Practitioner | $128.44 |
| Dentist | $109.83 |
| Optometrist | $118.96 |
| Prescription Drug | $511.11 |
| Veterinarian | $55.96 |
Transportation Expenses in Conroe, TX
The COL index for transportation is almost 10% less in Conroe compared to the national average. This index includes:
- Gas/petroleum
- Car maintenance and repair
- Highway taxes and fees
- Licensing
- Registration
- Public transportation
| Transportation in Conroe, TX | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Local Transport Ticket | $2.19 |
| Monthly Ticket Local Transport | $56.7 |
| Taxi Ride (8 km / 5 miles) | $15 |
| Gas / Petroleum (1 liter / 0.26 gallon) | $1.16 |
Cost of Miscellaneous Expenses in Conroe, TX
All other expenses like entertainment, clothing, and grooming are listed under Miscellaneous Expenses. Here are some of the average costs for Conroe, TX residents:
| Miscellaneous Expenses | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Gym Membership (1 month) | $37.20 |
| Cinema Ticket (1 person) | $15 |
| Haircut | $16.50 |
| Branded Jeans | $31.80 |
| Daycare or Preschool (1 month) | $807 |
| International Primary School (1 year) | $13,191 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average monthly cost of senior living in Conroe, TX?
The average monthly cost of assisted living in Conroe, TX is $3,863. This is higher than the state average of $3,795.
How much does it cost to live comfortably in Conroe, Texas?
For 1 person, the average cost of living in Conroe, TX is $1874. For a family of 4, $4874.
What is the average monthly cost for independent living in Conroe, TX?
The average cost of independent living in Conroe, Texas is $2,918 per month.
Conroe, TX is indeed an affordable place to live in. If you are considering relocating to this city, I hope that the information provided in this article has helped you assess if the potential move will be beneficial for you. And if you are planning to buy your new home in this location, feel free to get in touch with me and I will be more than happy to help you find the perfect home for you, based on your lifestyle, personal preferences, and budget. Feel free to give me a call today at (832) 244-3210 or send me an email at carol@htownliving.com if you have any questions or if you would like to schedule an appointment.
