Cost of Living: Santa Clarita, CA vs College Station, TX (2026)

Santa Clarita

California
197
VS

College Station

Texas
91

Santa Clarita is 116% more expensive than College Station.

$2,486/mo ↑ 113%
Median Rent
$1,168/mo ↓ 53%
$119,926/yr ↑ 132%
Median Income
$51,776/yr ↓ 57%
$721,000 ↑ 121%
Home Value
$326,500 ↓ 55%
$2,649/mo ↑ 112%
Owner Costs
$1,251/mo ↓ 53%
229,021
Population
122,280

Tax Comparison

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

Affordability

24.9%
rent-to-income
Affordability
27.1%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing Santa Clarita, CA and College Station, TX, the overall cost of living indices are 197 and 91 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,318/month cheaper in College Station, saving renters about $15,816/year.

Median household income is $68,150/year higher in Santa Clarita. Home values also differ significantly — the median in Santa Clarita is $721,000 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

Santa Clarita vs College Station — common questions

Is Santa Clarita 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 197 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between Santa Clarita and College Station?
Median rent in Santa Clarita is $2,486/month and in College Station it's $1,168/month — a difference of $1,318/month.
Which city has higher income, Santa Clarita or College Station?
Median household income is $119,926 in Santa Clarita and $51,776 in College Station. Median household income is $68,150/year higher in Santa Clarita.
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 Clarita or College Station?
It depends on your priorities. Santa Clarita has a cost index of 197 with median rent of $2,486/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 Santa Clarita details → View College Station details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for Santa Clarita and College Station

Santa Clarita vs. Spokane Santa Clarita vs. Fremont Santa Clarita vs. Enterprise Santa Clarita vs. Richmond Santa Clarita vs. Norfolk Santa Clarita vs. Baton Rouge College Station vs. Clovis College Station vs. Independence College Station vs. Arvada College Station vs. Rochester College Station vs. Concord College Station vs. Lafayette