Houston Cost of Living Calculator

Houston typically scores near or below the national average on cost of living indexes. Housing tends to be the biggest savings category compared to coastal cities, while utilities and transportation costs are close to the national median.

Grocery costs in Houston generally run 3-8% below the national average. Staples like milk, bread, and eggs tend to be cheaper than in Northeast or West Coast metros. Access to regional grocery chains like H-E-B and Kroger helps keep prices competitive.

Housing is almost always the largest difference. Depending on where you are moving from, you could save 20-50% on mortgage payments or rent compared to cities like San Francisco, New York, or Los Angeles.

No. Texas is one of nine states with no personal income tax. This can represent a significant savings, effectively boosting your take-home pay by 3-10% compared to states with income taxes. However, property taxes in Texas are higher than the national average.

Average monthly utilities for a standard apartment in Houston run $150-$250, including electricity, water, gas, and trash. Summer electricity bills can spike due to air conditioning, so budgeting $200-$350 for peak months is wise.

Select your current city and see a side-by-side comparison with Houston using C2ER and BLS data. The calculator adjusts your income across seven categories so you can see real dollar differences in spending power.