Cost of Living: Santa Ana, CA vs Killeen, TX (2026)

Santa Ana

California
163
VS

Killeen

Texas
75

Santa Ana is 117% more expensive than Killeen.

$1,975/mo ↑ 72%
Median Rent
$1,147/mo ↓ 42%
$88,354/yr ↑ 51%
Median Income
$58,339/yr ↓ 34%
$657,800 ↑ 236%
Home Value
$196,000 ↓ 70%
$1,965/mo ↑ 67%
Owner Costs
$1,176/mo ↓ 40%
311,639
Population
156,144

Tax Comparison

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

Affordability

26.8%
rent-to-income
Affordability
23.6%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing Santa Ana, CA and Killeen, TX, the overall cost of living indices are 163 and 75 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $828/month cheaper in Killeen, saving renters about $9,936/year.

Median household income is $30,015/year higher in Santa Ana. Home values also differ significantly — the median in Santa Ana is $657,800 compared to $196,000 in Killeen.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Ana vs Killeen — common questions

Is Santa Ana or Killeen cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, Killeen is cheaper to live in with an index of 75 compared to 163 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between Santa Ana and Killeen?
Median rent in Santa Ana is $1,975/month and in Killeen it's $1,147/month — a difference of $828/month.
Which city has higher income, Santa Ana or Killeen?
Median household income is $88,354 in Santa Ana and $58,339 in Killeen. Median household income is $30,015/year higher in Santa Ana.
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 Santa Ana or Killeen?
It depends on your priorities. Santa Ana has a cost index of 163 with median rent of $1,975/mo, while Killeen has a cost index of 75 with rent of $1,147/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View Santa Ana details → View Killeen details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for Santa Ana and Killeen

Santa Ana vs. Orlando Santa Ana vs. Cincinnati Santa Ana vs. Riverside Santa Ana vs. Irvine Santa Ana vs. Corpus Christi Santa Ana vs. St. Paul Killeen vs. Lakewood Killeen vs. Kansas City Killeen vs. Macon Killeen vs. Springfield Killeen vs. Alexandria Killeen vs. Sunnyvale