City Comparison

Franklin vs Sugar Land

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Franklin

Tennessee
139
Expensive
$750,000
Median Home
$1,850/mo
Median Rent
$118,200
Median Income

Sugar Land

Texas
110
Above Average
$456,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$128,400
Median Income

The Verdict

26.4%

Living in Sugar Land costs 26.4% less than Franklin. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Franklin, you would need $59,353 in Sugar Land.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
230
Franklin
128
Sugar Land
Groceries
100
Franklin
99
Sugar Land
Utilities
97
Franklin
96
Sugar Land
Transportation
90
Franklin
101
Sugar Land
Healthcare
91
Franklin
96
Sugar Land

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Franklin has the same purchasing power as $59,353 in Sugar Land.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $94,773 in Franklin.

Living in Franklin vs Sugar Land

Housing Costs

Franklin's housing index of 230 is higher Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $750,000 vs $456,000. The $294,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,116 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,850/mo in Franklin compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Franklin and 99 in Sugar Land. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Franklin vs $470/month in Sugar Land. 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 97 in Franklin and 96 in Sugar Land. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Franklin vs $384 in Sugar Land. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 91 in Franklin and 96 in Sugar Land. 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 $118,200 in Franklin and $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,036 and $116,727 respectively. Sugar Land residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,758/month to housing in Franklin vs $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Franklin, median rent of $1,850/mo fits within this budget. In Sugar Land, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 102 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sugar Land is 26.4% more affordable overall with an index of 110 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Franklin has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $59,353 in Sugar Land, based on the cost of living difference.
Franklin's housing index is 230 with median homes at $750,000, while Sugar Land's is 128 with median homes at $456,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases