City Comparison

Akron vs Sugar Land

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Akron

Ohio
81
Very Affordable
$146,000
Median Home
$875/mo
Median Rent
$48,500
Median Income

Sugar Land

Texas
110
Above Average
$456,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$128,400
Median Income

The Verdict

26.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 26.4%, with Akron being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Akron has equivalent purchasing power to $101,852 in Sugar Land.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Akron
128
Sugar Land
Groceries
106
Akron
99
Sugar Land
Utilities
80
Akron
96
Sugar Land
Transportation
85
Akron
101
Sugar Land
Healthcare
88
Akron
96
Sugar Land

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Akron has the same purchasing power as $101,852 in Sugar Land.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $55,227 in Akron.

Living in Akron vs Sugar Land

Housing Costs

Akron's housing index of 60 is lower Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $146,000 vs $456,000. The $310,000 difference in home prices means roughly $20,148 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Akron compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $750.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 106 in Akron and 99 in Sugar Land. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Akron vs $470/month in Sugar Land. Sugar Land offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $408/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 80 in Akron and 96 in Sugar Land. Monthly utility bills average approximately $320 in Akron vs $384 in Sugar Land. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 88 in Akron and 96 in Sugar Land. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $48,500 in Akron and $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,877 and $116,727 respectively. Sugar Land residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,132/month to housing in Akron vs $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Akron, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Sugar Land, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 68 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Akron is 26.4% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 110.
A $75,000 salary in Akron has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $101,852 in Sugar Land, based on the cost of living difference.
Akron's housing index is 60 with median homes at $146,000, while Sugar Land's is 128 with median homes at $456,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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