City Comparison

Beaumont vs College Station

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

College Station

Texas
87
Below Average
$314,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$50,900
Median Income

The Verdict

10.3%

Beaumont is 10.3% less expensive than College Station overall. A household earning $75,000 in Beaumont would need approximately $83,654 in College Station to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
81
Beaumont
82
College Station
Groceries
96
Beaumont
93
College Station
Utilities
102
Beaumont
96
College Station
Transportation
93
Beaumont
85
College Station
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
90
College Station

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $83,654 in College Station.

Conversely, $75,000 in College Station equals $67,241 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs College Station

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower College Station's 82, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $314,000. The $148,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,624 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,075/mo in College Station, a monthly difference of $75.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 93 in College Station. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $442/month in College Station. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 96 in College Station. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $384 in College Station. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 90 in College Station. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $50,900 in College Station. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $58,506 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,188/month in College Station. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In College Station, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 14 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 10.3% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 87.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $83,654 in College Station, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while College Station's is 82 with median homes at $314,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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