The metro region posts the lowest transportation costs of any Texas metro area in the second quarter 2026 Cost of Living Index
Greater Brazos Region, TX (September 1, 2026) – The College Station-Bryan MSA recorded a composite Cost of Living Index of 89.6 in the second quarter of 2026, placing the cost of a professional and managerial standard of living 10.4 percent below the national average, according to data released by C2ER, the Council for Community and Economic Research.
The index measures after-tax living costs for households in the top income quintile across 248 participating urban areas, where the national average is set at 100. Second quarter results ranged from 228.8 in Manhattan to 79.0 in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
The measure matters for regional competitiveness because it prices the household budget of the workforce that expanding companies typically relocate: engineers, researchers, managers, and clinicians. Compensation that stretches further is a recruiting advantage.
Among the 23 Texas urban areas reporting in the second quarter, the Greater Brazos region came in below every major metro in the state, including Austin at 98.0, Dallas at 99.3, Houston at 93.7, Fort Worth at 93.0, and Plano at 103.5.
Transportation was the standout. At 86.1, the Greater Brazos region posted the lowest transportation costs of any metropolitan area in the state and ran 13.9 percent below the national average, a reflection of short commute distances across a compact metro. Housing came in at 82.0, or 18 percent below the national average, and miscellaneous goods and services at 89.6.
“Affordability is a competitive asset, and this quarter the data is specific about where it comes from,” said Tom Johnson, President and CEO of the Greater Brazos Partnership. “Short commutes, reasonable housing, and everyday costs below the national average add up to a household budget that goes further here than in any large metro in Texas. That is a durable advantage, and protecting it as the region grows is part of the work.”
Grocery prices tracked below national averages across staples. Local prices in the second quarter averaged $4.65 for a gallon of milk against a national average of $4.89, $3.62 for a loaf of bread against $3.93, and $3.50 for a dozen eggs against $3.69.
The Cost of Living Index is published quarterly by C2ER and covers 61 items priced by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, and university research centers in each participating area. C2ER notes that small differences between areas should not be read as meaningful.
About the Greater Brazos Partnership
The Greater Brazos Partnership is the regional economic development organization for the Greater Brazos region, the innovation hub of the Texas Triangle. Through business attraction, workforce development, and investor engagement, we advance the region as a global destination for innovation, investment, and job growth. Learn more at greaterbrazos.org.
For more information, please contact info@greaterbrazos.org.