College Station vs McKinney
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
College Station
McKinney
The Verdict
College Station is 22.3% less expensive than McKinney overall. A household earning $75,000 in College Station would need approximately $96,552 in McKinney 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 $96,552 in McKinney.
Conversely, $75,000 in McKinney equals $58,259 in College Station.
Living in College Station vs McKinney
Housing Costs
College Station's housing index of 82 is lower McKinney's 140, translating to median home prices of $314,000 vs $472,000. The $158,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,272 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in College Station compared to $1,900/mo in McKinney, a monthly difference of $825.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 93 in College Station and 97 in McKinney. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in College Station vs $461/month in McKinney. 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 113 in McKinney. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in College Station vs $452 in McKinney. 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 129 in McKinney. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 39-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 $124,200 in McKinney. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,506 and $110,893 respectively. McKinney 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 $2,898/month in McKinney. In College Station, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In McKinney, median rent of $1,900/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 58 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases