Harlingen named #1 Least Expensive Urban Area in the U.S., According to C2ER
By C2ER | The Council for Community and Economic Research
HARLINGEN, TEXAS – Among the 251 urban areas that participated in the first quarter of the 2025 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 Harlingen, TX. The Cost of Living Index is published quarterly by C2ER — The Council for Community and Economic Research.
The Ten Most and Least Expensive Urban Areas in the Cost of Living Index (COLI)
Review of Quarter One in 2025
National Average for 251 Urban Areas = 100
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. Covering 61 different items, 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.
What Do Groceries Cost?
The C2ER grocery index is drawing data from over 320 million grocery prices derived from 1.5 trillion historical data points collected across the country to generate the most accurate data possible. Datasembly’s weekly collection covers 200 national and regional retailers and quick service restaurants representing over 150,000 brick and mortar locations across 30,000 zip codes. With food prices still being a big part of the national conversation, C2ER decided to feature those communities once again with the most and least expensive food costs as measured by the grocery item index number. The twenty-six items priced come from a variety of surrogate categories to represent the grocery item component of the index. With food prices still being a big part of the national conversation, C2ER decided to feature those communities once again with the most and least expensive food costs as measured by the grocery item index number. The twenty-six items priced come 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)
Review of Quarter One in 2025
Average for 251 Urban Areas = 100
The Most Expensive and Least Expensive Cities for a Dozen Eggs
The price of a dozen eggs has continued to soar since the beginning of 2025 amid the ongoing bird flu outbreak, seeing an average of $5.12 in April 2025 according to the the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Comparing this with COLI data, we can see a substantial rise in the average price over the first quarter of the 2025, from $4.50 across participating areas in January when the data was collected, to this new all time high price. However, with the World Organisation for Animal Health indicating that bird flu cases have decreased, the supply of these basic foodstuffs should return to normal, and with it, prices.
The Five Most and Least Expensive Places for a Dozen Eggs
Review of Quarter One in 2025
Average for 251 Urban Areas = $4.50
The quarterly Cost of Living Index is available by subscription for $190 per year for the print version and $180 per year for the PDF. The electronic version is available for $300 per year. Be sure and ask about our Expanded Excel version which covers more household and income types. Send check, payable to C2ER, P.O. Box 12546, Arlington VA 22209, or subscribe on the Internet atwww.coli.org.
If you need additional information on the Cost of Living Index or other COLI-related products such as the COLI Web Calculator and the COLI Historical Index, please contact Alec Romero ataromero@crec.net or by phone at 571-397-2374.
Contact Information:
Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (HEDC)
(956) 216-5081
ocampos@harlingenedc.com
2424 Boxwood St, Suite 125, Harlingen, TX 78550