City Comparison

Beaumont vs Plano

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

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

Plano

Texas
109
Above Average
$400,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$96,348
Median Income

The Verdict

28.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 28.4%, with Beaumont being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to $104,808 in Plano.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
81
Beaumont
123
Plano
Groceries
96
Beaumont
98
Plano
Utilities
102
Beaumont
99
Plano
Transportation
93
Beaumont
106
Plano
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
100
Plano

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $104,808 in Plano.

Conversely, $75,000 in Plano equals $53,670 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Plano

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower Plano's 123, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $400,000. The $234,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,216 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,700/mo in Plano, a monthly difference of $700.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 98 in Plano. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $466/month in Plano. 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 99 in Plano. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $396 in Plano. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 100 in Plano. 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 $96,348 in Plano. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $88,393 respectively. Plano residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $2,248/month in Plano. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Plano, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 42 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 28.4% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 109.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $104,808 in Plano, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Plano's is 123 with median homes at $400,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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