Abilene, TX vs College Station, TX: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in College Station, TX and Abilene, TX are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Abilene works out to about $75,500 in College Station, before taxes.
- Housing is 1.8% higher in College Station, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,504 a month in College Station and $1,990 in Abilene, $5,832 a year less in College Station (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $305,000 in College Station and $222,000 in Abilene.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when College Station was 2.2% more expensive than Abilene.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Abilene and College Station
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Abilene, TX
- College Station, TX
All items Abilene, TX: 90.4 College Station, TX: 91.0
Goods Abilene, TX: 93.8 College Station, TX: 93.8
Housing (rents) Abilene, TX: 73.8 College Station, TX: 75.1
Utilities Abilene, TX: 81.2 College Station, TX: 84.4
Other services Abilene, TX: 96.2 College Station, TX: 96.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Abilene, TX | College Station, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.4 | 91.0 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 73.8 | 75.1 |
| Utilities | 81.2 | 84.4 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Category | Abilene | College Station | College Station vs Abilene |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.4 | 91.0 | +0.6% |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 73.8 | 75.1 | +1.8% |
| Utilities | 81.2 | 84.4 | +4.0% |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,990 | $1,504 | −24.4% |
| Typical home value | $222,000 | $305,000 | +37.7% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Abilene | $75,000 | $75,500 | +0.6% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Abilene and College Station has narrowed since 2008: 2.9 points then, 0.6 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Abilene, TX
- College Station, TX
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Abilene, TX | College Station, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.2 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 89.4 | 94.3 |
| 2010 | 93.0 | 95.9 |
| 2011 | 92.5 | 95.6 |
| 2012 | 94.1 | 96.5 |
| 2013 | 92.5 | 95.2 |
| 2014 | 94.6 | 95.5 |
| 2015 | 92.9 | 95.9 |
| 2016 | 93.3 | 96.4 |
| 2017 | 93.7 | 94.6 |
| 2018 | 92.3 | 94.6 |
| 2019 | 92.4 | 94.5 |
| 2020 | 90.3 | 95.1 |
| 2021 | 91.7 | 94.9 |
| 2022 | 91.5 | 92.4 |
| 2023 | 90.4 | 91.3 |
| 2024 | 90.4 | 91.0 |
Goods
- Abilene, TX
- College Station, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Abilene, TX | College Station, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.5 | 96.4 |
| 2009 | 94.5 | 94.5 |
| 2010 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2011 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| 2012 | 96.3 | 96.2 |
| 2013 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2014 | 96.5 | 96.7 |
| 2015 | 96.0 | 96.0 |
| 2016 | 96.4 | 96.6 |
| 2017 | 96.4 | 96.3 |
| 2018 | 94.4 | 94.4 |
| 2019 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2020 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2022 | 93.7 | 93.7 |
| 2023 | 92.9 | 92.9 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 93.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Abilene, TX
- College Station, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Abilene, TX | College Station, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 69.6 | 84.4 |
| 2009 | 64.0 | 87.4 |
| 2010 | 72.2 | 87.1 |
| 2011 | 70.3 | 85.9 |
| 2012 | 74.6 | 89.2 |
| 2013 | 69.9 | 83.1 |
| 2014 | 76.9 | 82.8 |
| 2015 | 69.7 | 85.1 |
| 2016 | 71.0 | 85.1 |
| 2017 | 76.7 | 82.4 |
| 2018 | 76.8 | 88.4 |
| 2019 | 75.7 | 85.5 |
| 2020 | 66.3 | 84.2 |
| 2021 | 71.0 | 85.6 |
| 2022 | 75.4 | 79.9 |
| 2023 | 73.6 | 77.6 |
| 2024 | 73.8 | 75.1 |
Utilities
- Abilene, TX
- College Station, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Abilene, TX | College Station, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.5 | 100.4 |
| 2009 | 92.4 | 95.0 |
| 2010 | 93.3 | 94.7 |
| 2011 | 88.8 | 89.8 |
| 2012 | 88.6 | 89.1 |
| 2013 | 89.5 | 90.3 |
| 2014 | 93.3 | 93.3 |
| 2015 | 91.6 | 91.1 |
| 2016 | 87.9 | 87.4 |
| 2017 | 83.8 | 84.2 |
| 2018 | 84.1 | 84.9 |
| 2019 | 85.6 | 87.2 |
| 2020 | 85.7 | 86.8 |
| 2021 | 85.3 | 86.5 |
| 2022 | 87.0 | 88.5 |
| 2023 | 88.8 | 89.1 |
| 2024 | 81.2 | 84.4 |
Other services
- Abilene, TX
- College Station, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Abilene, TX | College Station, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.9 | 97.8 |
| 2009 | 97.0 | 97.1 |
| 2010 | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| 2011 | 99.6 | 99.7 |
| 2012 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| 2013 | 99.9 | 99.9 |
| 2014 | 99.9 | 100.0 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2016 | 101.2 | 101.4 |
| 2017 | 99.5 | 99.4 |
| 2018 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2019 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| 2020 | 99.3 | 99.3 |
| 2021 | 98.1 | 98.1 |
| 2022 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| 2023 | 95.8 | 95.8 |
| 2024 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,504 in College Station vs $1,990 in Abilene
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Abilene, TX
- College Station, TX
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Abilene, TX | College Station, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $831 | $972 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $847 | $994 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $845 | $992 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $850 | $1,015 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $852 | $1,026 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $864 | $1,031 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $863 | $1,014 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $860 | $1,031 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $881 | $1,066 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $903 | $1,063 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $893 | $1,023 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $904 | $1,054 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $915 | $1,076 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $933 | $1,057 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $934 | $1,032 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $938 | $1,064 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $950 | $1,093 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $978 | $1,082 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $973 | $1,076 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $986 | $1,099 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,000 | $1,118 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,016 | $1,101 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,034 | $1,109 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,054 | $1,145 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,074 | $1,153 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,093 | $1,159 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,139 | $1,204 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,147 | $1,232 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,171 | $1,246 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,211 | $1,271 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,237 | $1,306 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,232 | $1,332 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,253 | $1,345 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,284 | $1,358 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,283 | $1,367 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,275 | $1,392 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,287 | $1,403 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,321 | $1,409 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,343 | $1,445 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,342 | $1,455 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,367 | $1,464 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,458 | $1,460 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,542 | $1,506 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,714 | $1,518 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,870 | $1,503 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,041 | $1,475 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,990 | $1,504 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $305,000 in College Station vs $222,000 in Abilene
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Abilene, TX
- College Station, TX
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Abilene, TX | College Station, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $122K | $181K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $123K | $186K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $126K | $191K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $128K | $195K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $129K | $199K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $131K | $203K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $132K | $207K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $133K | $211K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $134K | $215K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $134K | $219K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $135K | $220K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $137K | $222K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $139K | $225K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $142K | $227K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $145K | $230K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $146K | $231K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $146K | $230K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $147K | $228K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $147K | $228K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $149K | $229K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $151K | $231K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $152K | $232K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $156K | $236K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $161K | $242K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $166K | $246K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $171K | $251K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $177K | $258K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $182K | $265K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $189K | $275K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $194K | $285K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $195K | $287K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $196K | $288K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $196K | $292K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $198K | $298K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $199K | $300K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $198K | $298K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $200K | $302K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $203K | $304K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $201K | $303K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $201K | $304K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $202K | $305K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $201K | $305K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $202K | $305K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $205K | $305K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $211K | $307K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $215K | $307K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $222K | $305K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.