The Texarkana USA Chamber of Commerce participates each quarter in a cost of living
survey with the Council for Community and Economic Research. This survey is used as a
comparison guide for individual and business relocations. Furthermore, it is used by
prospective businesses in their site selection process.
Among the 265 urban areas participating in the first quarter 2017 Cost of Living Index, the after tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in New York (Manhattan) NY to more than 20 percent below the national average in McAllen, TX. The Cost of Living Index is published quarterly by C2ER – The Councilfor Community and Economic Research.
The Cost of Living Index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and
services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, for professional and managerial
households in the top income quintile. It is based on more than 90,000 prices covering 60
different items for which prices are collected quarterly by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, and university applied economic centers in each participating urban area. Small differences should not be interpreted as showing a measurable difference.
The composite index is based on six component categories – housing, utilities, grocery
items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services.
The Texarkana USA Chamber of Commerce conducts the quarterly survey as part of their
economic development office. The local Chamber represents over 850 businesses,
organizations and professionals in the region encompassing Bowie County, Texas, and
Miller County, Arkansas. For additional information on being a member of the Chamber,
the economic development programs, and visitor information, contact the Chamber at 903-
792-7191, chamber@texarkana.org or 819 N. State Line Avenue, Texarkana, TX 75501.
The Cost of Living index for Texarkana USA was 86.9.
What Do Groceries Cost?
Each quarter, C2ER collects more than 90,000 prices from communities across the US for the Cost of Living
Index.
With food prices a big part of the national media attention, C2ER decided to once again feature those communities with the most and least expensive food costs as measured by the grocery item index number.
C2ER collects data on twenty-six items from a variety of surrogate categories to represent the grocery item component of the index.
The Five Most and Least Expensive Places for Grocery Items by Index Number in the Cost of Living Index (COLI)
First Quarter 2017
Average for 265 Urban Areas = 100
Most Expensive Least Expensive
Ranking Urban Areas Index Ranking Urban Areas Index
1 Honolulu HI 165.7 1 Temple TX 80.5
2 Kodiak AK 149.4 2 Twin Falls ID 80.6
3 Juneau AK 140.7 3 Brazoria County TX 80.7
4 Anchorage AK 130.6 4 Kalamazoo MI 81.7
5 New York (Manhattan) NY 129.0 5 Harlingen TX 82.2
Texarkana USA had an index of 96.0 for groceries.
The Ten Most and Least Expensive Urban Areas
in the Cost of Living Index (COLI)
First Quarter 2017
National Average for 265 Urban Areas = 100
Most Expensive Least Expensive
COL
