Cost of Living in Universal City, TX
Cost of Living in Universal City, TX has an overall index of 90, 10% below the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $263,396; typical monthly rent is $1,213; and median household income is $75,439.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 metro-area price parities. Home value: Zillow ZHVI market signal as of 2026-02. Rent: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Rent and home prices are comparatively balanced with local income. This describes the local market, not your household.
Can your household carry the housing cost?
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Other Texas cities with a useful tradeoff.
Recommendations require usable housing and income data and exclude very small places for a city of this scale.
Frequently asked questions about Universal City
Living in Universal City
Is Universal City, TX an affordable place to live?+
Yes — everyday expenses in Universal City run about 10% below the US average (Cost Index: 90). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $263,396, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is $1,213, versus $1,348 nationally.
How does Universal City fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,213, while local median household income is $75,439. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 19% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in Universal City, TX?+
This model applies no broad Texas wage-income tax. Applying the 1.6% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $263,396 gives a planning estimate near $4,214 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 8.19%.
How much does it cost to rent in Universal City, TX?+
The typical monthly rent in Universal City is around $1,213. That's close to the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $263,396, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in Universal City, TX?+
The typical home value in Universal City is $263,396. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $1,278/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 58% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in Universal City?+
Grocery prices in Universal City are more affordable compared to the rest of the US (index: 94, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 82). Both help keep your monthly expenses lower than in many parts of the country.
What is Universal City, TX like to live in?+
Universal City is a small town with a population of about 19,853. The median age of residents is 35.3, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 9.65%, near the national average of 12.4%.