City Comparison

Killeen vs Stockton

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Killeen

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

Stockton

California
114
Above Average
$400,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$54,658
Median Income

The Verdict

26.3%

Living in Killeen costs 26.3% less than Stockton. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Killeen, you would need $101,786 in Stockton.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
56
Killeen
126
Stockton
Groceries
96
Killeen
101
Stockton
Utilities
108
Killeen
108
Stockton
Transportation
95
Killeen
111
Stockton
Healthcare
96
Killeen
101
Stockton

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Killeen has the same purchasing power as $101,786 in Stockton.

Conversely, $75,000 in Stockton equals $55,263 in Killeen.

Living in Killeen vs Stockton

Housing Costs

Killeen's housing index of 56 is lower Stockton's 126, translating to median home prices of $235,000 vs $400,000. The $165,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,728 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Killeen compared to $1,500/mo in Stockton, a monthly difference of $525.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Killeen and 101 in Stockton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Killeen vs $480/month in Stockton. 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 108 in Killeen and 108 in Stockton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Killeen vs $432 in Stockton. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Killeen and 101 in Stockton. 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 $56,400 in Killeen and $54,658 in Stockton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $67,143 and $47,946 respectively. Killeen residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,316/month to housing in Killeen vs $1,275/month in Stockton. In Killeen, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Stockton, median rent of $1,500/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 70 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Killeen is 26.3% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 114.
A $75,000 salary in Killeen has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $101,786 in Stockton, based on the cost of living difference.
Killeen's housing index is 56 with median homes at $235,000, while Stockton's is 126 with median homes at $400,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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