City Comparison

College Station vs Killeen

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

College Station

Texas
87
Below Average
$314,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$50,900
Median Income

Killeen

Texas
84
Very Affordable
$235,000
Median Home
$975/mo
Median Rent
$56,400
Median Income

The Verdict

3.6%

Living in Killeen costs 3.6% less than College Station. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in College Station, you would need $72,414 in Killeen.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
82
College Station
56
Killeen
Groceries
93
College Station
96
Killeen
Utilities
96
College Station
108
Killeen
Transportation
85
College Station
95
Killeen
Healthcare
90
College Station
96
Killeen

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in College Station has the same purchasing power as $72,414 in Killeen.

Conversely, $75,000 in Killeen equals $77,679 in College Station.

Living in College Station vs Killeen

Housing Costs

College Station's housing index of 82 is higher Killeen's 56, translating to median home prices of $314,000 vs $235,000. The $79,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,136 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in College Station compared to $975/mo in Killeen, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 93 in College Station and 96 in Killeen. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in College Station vs $456/month in Killeen. 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 108 in Killeen. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in College Station vs $432 in Killeen. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 90 in College Station 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 $50,900 in College Station and $56,400 in Killeen. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,506 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 $1,188/month to housing in College Station vs $1,316/month in Killeen. In College Station, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Killeen, median rent of $975/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 26 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Killeen is 3.6% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 87.
A $75,000 salary in College Station has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $72,414 in Killeen, based on the cost of living difference.
College Station's housing index is 82 with median homes at $314,000, while Killeen's is 56 with median homes at $235,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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