CostIndexUSA

Charlotte, NC vs College Station, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Charlotte
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableTX
College Station
91
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

College Station is moderately cheaper than Charlotte — 6.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlotte, you would need $74,800 in College Station. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.1%
Charlotte
97.6
College Station
75.1
🛒 Groceries2.9%
Charlotte
96.6
College Station
93.8
🚗 Transportation1.9%
Charlotte
103.1
College Station
101.1
🏥 Healthcare2.0%
Charlotte
93.3
College Station
91.4
Utilities5.4%
Charlotte
89.2
College Station
84.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in College Station, TX
$74,800
$5,200 less needed in College Station

Formula: salary × (91 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 0.9353. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
97.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

College Station, TX

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

Charlotte has 23.1% lower housing costs compared to College Station.

Income & Job Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
879,709
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyEnergy

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).

Charlotte, NC
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.