College Station vs Denton
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
College Station
Denton
The Verdict
College Station is 19.4% less expensive than Denton overall. A household earning $75,000 in College Station would need approximately $93,103 in Denton 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 College Station has the same purchasing power as $93,103 in Denton.
Conversely, $75,000 in Denton equals $60,417 in College Station.
Living in College Station vs Denton
Housing Costs
College Station's housing index of 82 is lower Denton's 126, translating to median home prices of $314,000 vs $385,000. The $71,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,620 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in College Station compared to $1,425/mo in Denton, a monthly difference of $350.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 93 in College Station and 98 in Denton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in College Station vs $466/month in Denton. 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 96 in College Station and 90 in Denton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in College Station vs $360 in Denton. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 90 in College Station and 81 in Denton. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $50,900 in College Station and $73,700 in Denton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,506 and $68,241 respectively. Denton residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,188/month to housing in College Station vs $1,720/month in Denton. In College Station, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Denton, median rent of $1,425/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 44 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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