City Comparison

Champaign vs Midland

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Champaign

Illinois
81
Very Affordable
$215,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$56,100
Median Income

Midland

Texas
92
Below Average
$269,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$89,600
Median Income

The Verdict

12.0%

Champaign is 12.0% less expensive than Midland overall. A household earning $75,000 in Champaign would need approximately $85,185 in Midland to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
83
Champaign
84
Midland
Groceries
98
Champaign
96
Midland
Utilities
106
Champaign
99
Midland
Transportation
99
Champaign
91
Midland
Healthcare
90
Champaign
110
Midland

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Champaign has the same purchasing power as $85,185 in Midland.

Conversely, $75,000 in Midland equals $66,033 in Champaign.

Living in Champaign vs Midland

Housing Costs

Champaign's housing index of 83 is lower Midland's 84, translating to median home prices of $215,000 vs $269,000. The $54,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,516 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Champaign compared to $1,450/mo in Midland, a monthly difference of $350.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Champaign and 96 in Midland. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Champaign vs $456/month in Midland. 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 106 in Champaign and 99 in Midland. Monthly utility bills average approximately $424 in Champaign vs $396 in Midland. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 90 in Champaign and 110 in Midland. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $56,100 in Champaign and $89,600 in Midland. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $69,259 and $97,391 respectively. Midland residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,309/month to housing in Champaign vs $2,091/month in Midland. In Champaign, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In Midland, median rent of $1,450/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 20 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Champaign is 12.0% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 92.
A $75,000 salary in Champaign has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $85,185 in Midland, based on the cost of living difference.
Champaign's housing index is 83 with median homes at $215,000, while Midland's is 84 with median homes at $269,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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