Cost of Living: San Jose, CA vs College Station, TX (2026)

San Jose

California
254
VS

College Station

Texas
91

San Jose is 179% more expensive than College Station.

$2,617/mo ↑ 124%
Median Rent
$1,168/mo ↓ 55%
$141,565/yr ↑ 173%
Median Income
$51,776/yr ↓ 63%
$1,187,800 ↑ 264%
Home Value
$326,500 ↓ 73%
$2,775/mo ↑ 122%
Owner Costs
$1,251/mo ↓ 55%
990,054
Population
122,280

Tax Comparison

13.3%
Income Tax
0%
7.25%
State Sales Tax
6.25%
0.71%
Property Tax
1.6%

Affordability

22.2%
rent-to-income
Affordability
27.1%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing San Jose, CA and College Station, TX, the overall cost of living indices are 254 and 91 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,449/month cheaper in College Station, saving renters about $17,388/year.

Median household income is $89,789/year higher in San Jose. Home values also differ significantly — the median in San Jose is $1,187,800 compared to $326,500 in College Station.

Texas has no state income tax, giving College Station residents a significant tax advantage over California's 13.3% rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

San Jose vs College Station — common questions

Is San Jose or College Station cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, College Station is cheaper to live in with an index of 91 compared to 254 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between San Jose and College Station?
Median rent in San Jose is $2,617/month and in College Station it's $1,168/month — a difference of $1,449/month.
Which city has higher income, San Jose or College Station?
Median household income is $141,565 in San Jose and $51,776 in College Station. Median household income is $89,789/year higher in San Jose.
How do taxes compare between California and Texas?
California has 13.3% income tax, 7.25% sales tax, and 0.71% property tax. Texas has 0% income tax, 6.25% sales tax, and 1.6% property tax.
Should I move to San Jose or College Station?
It depends on your priorities. San Jose has a cost index of 254 with median rent of $2,617/mo, while College Station has a cost index of 91 with rent of $1,168/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View San Jose details → View College Station details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for San Jose and College Station

San Jose vs. Dallas San Jose vs. Austin San Jose vs. San Diego San Jose vs. Jacksonville San Jose vs. San Antonio San Jose vs. Fort Worth College Station vs. Clovis College Station vs. Independence College Station vs. Arvada College Station vs. Rochester College Station vs. Concord College Station vs. Lafayette