College Station vs Plano
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
College Station
Plano
The Verdict
College Station is 20.2% less expensive than Plano overall. A household earning $75,000 in College Station would need approximately $93,966 in Plano 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 $93,966 in Plano.
Conversely, $75,000 in Plano equals $59,862 in College Station.
Living in College Station vs Plano
Housing Costs
College Station's housing index of 82 is lower Plano's 123, translating to median home prices of $314,000 vs $400,000. The $86,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,592 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in College Station compared to $1,700/mo in Plano, a monthly difference of $625.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 93 in College Station and 98 in Plano. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in College Station vs $466/month in Plano. 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 99 in Plano. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in College Station vs $396 in Plano. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 90 in College Station and 100 in Plano. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-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 $96,348 in Plano. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,506 and $88,393 respectively. Plano 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 $2,248/month in Plano. In College Station, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Plano, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 41 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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