College Station vs Franklin
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
College Station
Franklin
The Verdict
College Station is 37.4% less expensive than Franklin overall. A household earning $75,000 in College Station would need approximately $119,828 in Franklin 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 $119,828 in Franklin.
Conversely, $75,000 in Franklin equals $46,942 in College Station.
Living in College Station vs Franklin
Housing Costs
College Station's housing index of 82 is lower Franklin's 230, translating to median home prices of $314,000 vs $750,000. The $436,000 difference in home prices means roughly $28,344 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in College Station compared to $1,850/mo in Franklin, a monthly difference of $775.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 93 in College Station and 100 in Franklin. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in College Station vs $475/month in Franklin. College Station offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in College Station and 97 in Franklin. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in College Station vs $388 in Franklin. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 90 in College Station and 91 in Franklin. 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 $50,900 in College Station and $118,200 in Franklin. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,506 and $85,036 respectively. Franklin 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 $2,758/month in Franklin. In College Station, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Franklin, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 148 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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