Cost-of-living indicators for Tyler, TX, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities, overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
Tyler ranks #238 of 387 U.S. metros by cost, and its overall price index has fallen 3.8 points since 2008.
falling since 2008
similar cost to Rockford
The verdict
Tyler costs less than 61% of U.S. metros, an overall index of 92.2, 7.8% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 79.9.
bottom 39%
by overall cost, nationwide
93.8
goods RPP, tradable items
82.9
services RPP, labor-priced
$78K
local median income, national buying power
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $108,512 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $92,156.
What the Numbers Mean for Tyler
Tyler ranks #238 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it below the national cost median. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 92.2, Tyler, TX is 7.8% cheaper than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Tyler's most and least expensive categories - goods at 93.8 versus rents at 79.9 - is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $108,512 inside Tyler, while a household needs roughly $92,156 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 79.9 - 20.1% below the national average, so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Tyler's overall index has fallen by 3.8 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 93.8 and services at 82.9, meaning everyday spending in Tyler is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Tyler vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
92Top 61%higher than 39% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities · 2024
Tyler cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category, 100 = national average
RPP
Rents
79.9
Rents
79.9 RPP
85.2% of the leader · rank #1 · -20.1 vs avg
Services
82.9
Services
82.9 RPP
88.4% of the leader · rank #2 · -17.1 vs avg
Overall
92.2
Overall
92.2 RPP
98.3% of the leader · rank #3 · -7.8 vs avg
Goods
93.8
Goods
93.8 RPP
100.0% of the leader · rank #4 · -6.2 vs avg
What this shows Tyler's gap from the national average is led by rents at 79.9. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing, where Tyler's cost comes from
Metros near Tyler's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.2, rents 73.1). Tyler is skewed toward housing costs relative to its peer group. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.2, rents 73.1). Tyler is skewed toward housing costs relative to its peer group. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Price Index Summary
Overall
92.2
-7.8 below avg
Goods
93.8
-6.2 below avg
Services
82.9
-17.1 below avg
Rents
79.9
-20.1 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 3.8 points over this period. The largest single-year move was in 2022, when the index dropped 2.5 points from the year before.
Tyler overall RPP, 2008-2024
Every year on record, national average = 100
Down 3.8 pts
Year
Overall
Goods
Services
Rents
2008
95.9
97.1
101.3
85.2
2009
95.4
95.2
96.1
87.6
2010
97.4
96.6
95.6
92.5
2011
96.8
96.9
90.5
87.3
2012
95.9
97.3
88.7
82.4
2013
97.6
97.3
90.2
92.6
2014
95.5
97.6
93.3
79.9
2015
96.7
97.0
90.7
85.5
2016
97.0
97.2
87.1
84.4
2017
95.2
97.1
83.2
80.0
2018
93.4
94.4
84.3
81.2
2019
94.5
96.2
85.9
86.4
2020
95.4
96.2
86.2
86.0
2021
94.5
96.2
85.8
82.3
2022
92.0
93.7
88.1
77.4
2023
93.0
92.9
89.4
86.0
2024
92.2
93.8
82.9
79.9
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Tyler, TX's index of 92.2.
How to read Tyler's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
Budget to local prices, not headline pay, a $100K national salary spends like about $108,512 in Tyler. Salary calculator →
Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 79.9 (20.1% below average) - the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
Local median household income is $71,923; adjusted for Tyler's price level that is about $78,045 in national-average buying power.
Compare Tyler head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros →
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown, not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Tyler, TX has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 92.2, meaning it is 7.8% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 93.8, services at 82.9, and rents at 79.9. It ranks #238 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Tyler, TX to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $92,156 in Tyler, TX. Conversely, $100K earned in Tyler, TX has the purchasing power of $108,512 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Tyler, TX? ▼
Rents in Tyler, TX are indexed at 79.9, which is 20.1% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Tyler, TX getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Tyler, TX's overall cost index changed by -3.8 points (from 95.9 to 92.2). The cost of living has been declining.
What costs the most in Tyler, TX? ▼
The priciest category in Tyler, TX is goods at 93.8, 6.2% below the national average, still the highest of the three categories. The most affordable category is rents at 79.9, 20.1% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Tyler, TX? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Rockford, Memphis, Twin Falls. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Tyler, TX's 92.2.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) - the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) - the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) - wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
Every figure on PlainCost is rendered directly from BEA Regional Price
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report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Rankings measure the published cost-of-living index only; we don't recommend where to live
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