Cost of Living in College Station, TX
Cost of Living in College Station, TX has an overall index of 104, 4% above the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $326,500; typical monthly rent is $1,755; and median household income is $51,776.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 metro-area price parities. Home value: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. Rent: Zillow ZORI market signal as of 2026-02. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Home prices are the main source of pressure. This describes the local market, not your household.
Can your household carry the housing cost?
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Other Texas cities with a useful tradeoff.
Recommendations require usable housing and income data and exclude very small places for a city of this scale.
Frequently asked questions about College Station
Living in College Station
What is the cost of living like in College Station, TX?+
Living costs in College Station land close to the national average, with a Cost Index of 104 (where 100 = the US baseline). Housing is the largest variable: the median home value here is $326,500, and typical monthly rents are $1,755. Groceries and utilities are slightly below what you would find in most US cities.
How does College Station fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,755, while local median household income is $51,776. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 41% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in College Station, TX?+
This model applies no broad Texas wage-income tax. Applying the 1.6% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $326,500 gives a planning estimate near $5,224 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 8.19%.
How much does it cost to rent in College Station, TX?+
The typical monthly rent in College Station is around $1,755. That's about 30% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $326,500, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in College Station, TX?+
The typical home value in College Station is $326,500. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $1,585/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 36% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in College Station?+
Grocery prices in College Station are more affordable compared to the rest of the US (index: 94, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 84). Both help keep your monthly expenses lower than in many parts of the country.
What is College Station, TX like to live in?+
College Station is a mid-sized city with a population of about 122,280. The median age of residents is 22.9, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 28.56%, above the national average of 12.4%.