City Comparison

Killeen vs St. Paul

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Killeen

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

St. Paul

Minnesota
100
Average
$260,000
Median Home
$1,300/mo
Median Rent
$57,718
Median Income

The Verdict

16.0%

Living in Killeen costs 16.0% less than St. Paul. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Killeen, you would need $89,286 in St. Paul.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
56
Killeen
98
St. Paul
Groceries
96
Killeen
103
St. Paul
Utilities
108
Killeen
97
St. Paul
Transportation
95
Killeen
108
St. Paul
Healthcare
96
Killeen
105
St. Paul

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Killeen has the same purchasing power as $89,286 in St. Paul.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $63,000 in Killeen.

Living in Killeen vs St. Paul

Housing Costs

Killeen's housing index of 56 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $235,000 vs $260,000. The $25,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,620 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Killeen compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $325.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Killeen and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Killeen vs $489/month in St. Paul. Killeen offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 108 in Killeen and 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Killeen vs $388 in St. Paul. 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 105 in St. Paul. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-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 $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $67,143 and $57,718 respectively. Killeen residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,316/month to housing in Killeen vs $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Killeen, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 42 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Killeen is 16.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 100.
A $75,000 salary in Killeen has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $89,286 in St. Paul, based on the cost of living difference.
Killeen's housing index is 56 with median homes at $235,000, while St. Paul's is 98 with median homes at $260,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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