Cost of living index
Houston, TX
98.6 / 100
Living in Houston, TX is 1.4% cheaper than the US average.
Overall prices
98.6
Housing / rent
104.5
vs US average
−1.4%
What it costs to live in Houston, TX
Houston, TX has an overall price level of 98.6 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 1.4% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 104.5 it is 4.5% above the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Compare Houston, TX with
New York, NYLos Angeles, CAChicago, ILDallas, TXWashington, DCPhiladelphia, PAAtlanta, GAMiami, FLPhoenix, AZBoston, MARiverside, CA
Common questions
Is Houston, TX an expensive place to live?
Houston, TX has an overall cost-of-living index of 98.6, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 1.4% cheaper than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Houston, TX?
Housing in Houston, TX scores 104.5 against a US average of 100 — roughly 4.5% above average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Houston, TX compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Houston, TX sit at 98.6 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 104.5. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.