Cost of Living 6th Lowest in US

Harlingen, Texas, May 12, 2010 - The cost of living in Harlingen, Texas is the sixth lowest in the United States, according to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index released by the Council for Community and Economic Research.

The Cost of Living Index (COLI) captures data collected in 308 urban areas for the first quarter of 2010. The composite index for Harlingen was 86.1 (with 100 being the national average), meaning the cost of living in Harlingen is 13.9 percent below the national average.

The composite index is made up of six components. The components (and the index for Harlingen) were: grocery items (84.9); housing (81.0); utilities (110.2); transportation (89.1); health care (93.5); and miscellaneous goods and services (81.8).

“Harlingen has consistently made the list of ten lowest cost of living cities,” according to Bill Martin, CEO of the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation. “Companies use cost of living as one factor in decisions on new plants and investment so having a low

cost of living can help you get noticed,” Martin concluded.

McAllen, Texas, another city in the Rio South Texas region, was the only other city in Texas to make the “ten lowest” list.

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