City Comparison

Abilene vs Everett

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Abilene

Texas
80
Very Affordable
$179,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$62,600
Median Income

Everett

Washington
136
Expensive
$575,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$75,400
Median Income

The Verdict

41.2%

Living in Abilene costs 41.2% less than Everett. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Abilene, you would need $127,500 in Everett.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
58
Abilene
192
Everett
Groceries
91
Abilene
109
Everett
Utilities
97
Abilene
92
Everett
Transportation
89
Abilene
117
Everett
Healthcare
96
Abilene
122
Everett

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Abilene has the same purchasing power as $127,500 in Everett.

Conversely, $75,000 in Everett equals $44,118 in Abilene.

Living in Abilene vs Everett

Housing Costs

Abilene's housing index of 58 is lower Everett's 192, translating to median home prices of $179,000 vs $575,000. The $396,000 difference in home prices means roughly $25,740 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Abilene compared to $1,800/mo in Everett, a monthly difference of $850.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 91 in Abilene and 109 in Everett. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $432/month in Abilene vs $518/month in Everett. Abilene offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1032/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Abilene and 92 in Everett. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Abilene vs $368 in Everett. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Abilene and 122 in Everett. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 26-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $62,600 in Abilene and $75,400 in Everett. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $78,250 and $55,441 respectively. Abilene residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,461/month to housing in Abilene vs $1,759/month in Everett. In Abilene, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Everett, median rent of $1,800/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 134 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Abilene is 41.2% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 136.
A $75,000 salary in Abilene has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $127,500 in Everett, based on the cost of living difference.
Abilene's housing index is 58 with median homes at $179,000, while Everett's is 192 with median homes at $575,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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