Retirement Lists

Cost of Living in College Station, Texas

Texas A&M University campus in College Station, Texas.
Photo by Donnie Ray Jones via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

College Station costs

A university market needs a calendar-aware budget

Census estimates for 2020 through 2024 place median owner value at $346,700, median gross rent at $1,194, and median selected owner costs at $2,270 with a mortgage or $871 without one. Median household income was $50,900.

The 35.4% owner-occupied rate reflects a university-centered market. Add taxes, insurance, utilities, cooling, repairs, parking, transportation, care, prescriptions, event traffic, and the premium for a quieter or more accessible home.

Planning a monthly budget

A local monthly estimate of $3,055 gives you the starting point, with housing taking the largest share.

Housing
$1,095
Utilities (in rent)
$253
Food
$460/mo
Transportation
$1,064/mo
Healthcare
$436

Utilities are included in housing so they are not added twice. The separate Utilities row is a reference estimate.

How the total can change

A traveler style stay, a couple household, and long term rent answer different planning questions.

Comfortable Living
$4,361

Good

Cost of Living for Couple
$4,277

Very Good

Typical 1BR Rent
$1,095

Very Good

Everyday expenses

Dining, transportation, taxes, and car needs can change how the monthly budget feels.

Dining Out
$235/mo

Excellent

Need for a Car
Required
Property Taxes
High
Overall Feel
Moderate
Residents 65+ Below Poverty Level
5.3%
65+ Householder — Renter Occupied
27.7%
65+ Households With High Housing Costs
36.5%
Median Household Income, Householder 65+
$71,359

Could College Station fit your monthly retirement budget?

Compare your monthly budget with a city estimate. Add your expected housing amount when you have a more useful number.

Housing

Enter your expected rent and required housing charges, or leave this blank to use the current renter amount.

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Starting renter estimates

Use these broad monthly estimates as a starting point, then replace them with costs you know.

One person
$3,055 per month
Two people
$4,277 per month

One-person estimate breakdown

Housing
$1,095
Food
$460
Transportation
$1,064
Healthcare
$436

Taxes, debt, insurance, out-of-pocket care, travel, and one-time moving costs may not be included.

College Station in everyday life

Could College Station work for you?

What may work well

  • Census provides clear city housing benchmarks.
  • A substantial local hospital may reduce some regional travel.

What to think about

  • University demand makes citywide medians harder to interpret.
  • Cooling, parking, traffic, insurance, and regional care may add cost.

Price a College Station household

  1. Compare several homes

    Keep housing, taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs, parking, traffic, and campus activity visible.

  2. Map recurring care

    Price hospital, primary care, pharmacy, groceries, parks, transit, family, and specialists from the exact address.

  3. Match the calendar

    Check the budget and daily route during semester, game, event, and summer periods.

Questions retirees ask

Is the $871 figure the full cost of owning without a mortgage?

No. It is the Census median for selected owner costs without a mortgage. Add taxes, insurance, utilities, cooling, repairs, care, parking, and transportation.

Why do College Station homes have different budgets?

Campus traffic, parking, housing demand, distance, taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs, and access to care vary by address and season.

College Station affordability depends on the actual home, the university calendar, cooling, parking, transportation, and the regional care route, not one citywide median.

Sources

The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.

Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.

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How this city research is made

Retirement Lists uses documented public sources and methods to research, review, and correct city information. Read our Editorial Policy.