College Station vs Peoria
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
College Station
Peoria
The Verdict
Peoria is 14.5% less expensive than College Station overall. A household earning $75,000 in College Station would need approximately $65,517 in Peoria 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 $65,517 in Peoria.
Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $85,855 in College Station.
Living in College Station vs Peoria
Housing Costs
College Station's housing index of 82 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $314,000 vs $164,000. The $150,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,756 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in College Station compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 93 in College Station and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in College Station vs $461/month in Peoria. 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 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in College Station vs $412 in Peoria. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 90 in College Station and 107 in Peoria. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-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 $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,506 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria 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 $1,370/month in Peoria. In College Station, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 40 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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