Hillsboro vs Plano
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hillsboro
Plano
The Verdict
Plano is 17.4% less expensive than Hillsboro overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hillsboro would need approximately $63,867 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 Hillsboro has the same purchasing power as $63,867 in Plano.
Conversely, $75,000 in Plano equals $88,073 in Hillsboro.
Living in Hillsboro vs Plano
Housing Costs
Hillsboro's housing index of 175 is higher Plano's 123, translating to median home prices of $533,000 vs $400,000. The $133,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,640 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,725/mo in Hillsboro compared to $1,700/mo in Plano, a monthly difference of $25.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 108 in Hillsboro and 98 in Plano. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Hillsboro vs $466/month in Plano. Plano offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Hillsboro and 99 in Plano. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Hillsboro vs $396 in Plano. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 103 in Hillsboro and 100 in Plano. 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 $106,700 in Hillsboro and $96,348 in Plano. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $83,359 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 $2,490/month to housing in Hillsboro vs $2,248/month in Plano. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/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 52 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases