City Comparison

Killeen vs Olympia

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Killeen

Texas
84
Very Affordable
$235,000
Median Home
$975/mo
Median Rent
$56,400
Median Income

Olympia

Washington
112
Above Average
$495,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$81,300
Median Income

The Verdict

25.0%

Killeen is 25.0% less expensive than Olympia overall. A household earning $75,000 in Killeen would need approximately $100,000 in Olympia to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
56
Killeen
131
Olympia
Groceries
96
Killeen
105
Olympia
Utilities
108
Killeen
91
Olympia
Transportation
95
Killeen
129
Olympia
Healthcare
96
Killeen
124
Olympia

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Killeen has the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Olympia.

Conversely, $75,000 in Olympia equals $56,250 in Killeen.

Living in Killeen vs Olympia

Housing Costs

Killeen's housing index of 56 is lower Olympia's 131, translating to median home prices of $235,000 vs $495,000. The $260,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,896 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Killeen compared to $1,600/mo in Olympia, a monthly difference of $625.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Killeen and 105 in Olympia. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Killeen vs $499/month in Olympia. Killeen offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 108 in Killeen and 91 in Olympia. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Killeen vs $364 in Olympia. 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 96 in Killeen and 124 in Olympia. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 28-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $56,400 in Killeen and $81,300 in Olympia. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $67,143 and $72,589 respectively. Olympia residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,316/month to housing in Killeen vs $1,897/month in Olympia. In Killeen, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Olympia, median rent of $1,600/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 75 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Killeen is 25.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 112.
A $75,000 salary in Killeen has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $100,000 in Olympia, based on the cost of living difference.
Killeen's housing index is 56 with median homes at $235,000, while Olympia's is 131 with median homes at $495,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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