Median rent is 2% lower in Killeen ($1,208/mo vs $1,231/mo). Buying is cheaper in Killeen, where the median home runs $215,400 versus $239,000. Households earn more in Temple ($68,204 vs $60,977 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (91.5).
City A
Killeen, TX
City B
Temple, TX
How much would you need to earn in Temple, TX to maintain your standard of living from Killeen, TX?
Equivalent salary in Temple, TX
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Killeen
Texas
Temple
Texas
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,208/mo in Killeen and $1,231/mo in Temple. Median home values are within 10% of each other: $215,400 in Killeen and $239,000 in Temple.
Metric
Killeen
Temple
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Killeen
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Temple
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is not yet available for these cities.
Pick Temple if you prioritize higher median household income ($68,204/yr).
Killeen is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 91.5 versus 91.5 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Killeen.
Median rent is $1,208/mo in Killeen, TX and $1,231/mo in Temple, TX. Killeen, TX has the lower rent by about 2%.
Median household income is $60,977 in Killeen, TX and $68,204 in Temple, TX. Temple, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Killeen, TX is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in Temple, TX (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
