City Comparison

Beaumont vs Modesto

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

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

Modesto

California
112
Above Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$55,138
Median Income

The Verdict

30.4%

Beaumont is 30.4% less expensive than Modesto overall. A household earning $75,000 in Beaumont would need approximately $107,692 in Modesto to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
81
Beaumont
121
Modesto
Groceries
96
Beaumont
100
Modesto
Utilities
102
Beaumont
108
Modesto
Transportation
93
Beaumont
111
Modesto
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
100
Modesto

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $107,692 in Modesto.

Conversely, $75,000 in Modesto equals $52,232 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Modesto

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower Modesto's 121, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $380,000. The $214,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,908 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,400/mo in Modesto, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 100 in Modesto. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $475/month in Modesto. 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 108 in Modesto. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $432 in Modesto. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 100 in Modesto. 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 $57,000 in Beaumont and $55,138 in Modesto. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $49,230 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 $1,287/month in Modesto. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Modesto, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 40 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 30.4% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 112.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $107,692 in Modesto, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Modesto's is 121 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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