Charleston vs Killeen
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Charleston
Killeen
The Verdict
Killeen is 31.0% less expensive than Charleston overall. A household earning $75,000 in Charleston would need approximately $57,273 in Killeen to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Charleston has the same purchasing power as $57,273 in Killeen.
Conversely, $75,000 in Killeen equals $98,214 in Charleston.
Living in Charleston vs Killeen
Housing Costs
Charleston's housing index of 127 is higher Killeen's 56, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $235,000. The $145,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,420 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Charleston compared to $975/mo in Killeen, a monthly difference of $625.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Charleston and 96 in Killeen. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Charleston vs $456/month in Killeen. Killeen offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Charleston and 108 in Killeen. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Charleston vs $432 in Killeen. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Charleston and 96 in Killeen. 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 $65,872 in Charleston and $56,400 in Killeen. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,884 and $67,143 respectively. Killeen residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,537/month to housing in Charleston vs $1,316/month in Killeen. In Charleston, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Killeen, median rent of $975/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 71 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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