CostIndexUSA

Appleton, WI vs College Station, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WI
Appleton
92.4
overall index
$1,125/mo rent
More AffordableTX
College Station
91
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

College Station is slightly cheaper than Appleton — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Appleton, you would need $78,800 in College Station. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+6.1%
Appleton
70.8
College Station
75.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Appleton
93.8
College Station
93.8
🚗 Transportation3.2%
Appleton
104.4
College Station
101.1
🏥 Healthcare3.2%
Appleton
94.4
College Station
91.4
Utilities6.8%
Appleton
90.6
College Station
84.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Appleton to see what you'd need to earn in College Station to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in College Station, TX
$78,800
$1,200 less needed in College Station

Formula: salary × (91 ÷ 92.4) = salary × 0.9848. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Appleton, WI

Median Home Price
$333,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,125
Housing Index
70.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.7×

College Station, TX

Median Home Price
$301,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
75.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

College Station has 6.1% higher housing costs compared to Appleton.

Income & Job Market

Appleton, WI

Median Household Income
$84,000
Per Capita Income
$47,900
Unemployment Rate
1.8%
Population
77,315
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceRetailEducation

College Station, TX

Median Household Income
$54,700
Per Capita Income
$31,200
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
Population
120,511
Top Industries
EducationTechnologyHealthcareGovernmentResearch

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Appleton, WI
6.2×income-to-rent ratio

84% of income left after rent (median)

College Station, TX
2.7×income-to-rent ratio

63% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.