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Cost of living · head to head

Los Angeles, CA is approximately 15% pricier than Houston, TX, using Houston, TX as the comparison base.

Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average. Figures represent the wider Houston, TX and Los Angeles, CA metropolitan areas, not city limits.

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Houston, TXoverall index
98.6
Los Angeles, CAoverall index
113.6
Estimated salary equivalent based on regional price levels
in Houston, TX
A salary of $100,000 in Houston, TX has approximately the same purchasing power as $115,213 in Los Angeles, CA, based on regional price levels.
In plain terms: Los Angeles, CA is more expensive than Houston, TX, so you’d need about $115,213 there to match the lifestyle $100,000 buys in Houston, TX — same groceries, same rent level, same everyday spending. That’s ~$15,200 more to cover the higher cost of living, not a real raise.
Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Where the difference lies

The headline gap is 15%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing rents in Los Angeles, CA run 63% higher than in Houston, TX (170.4 vs 104.5), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people, housing rents move the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.

Category comparison

CategoryHouston, TXLos Angeles, CADifference
Overall98.6113.6+15%
Goods100.6106.6+6%
Housing rents104.5170.4+63%
Utilities95.3158.6+66%
Other services95.6104.4+9%

Los Angeles, CA differs from Houston, TX the most in utilities — about 66% higher in Los Angeles, CA — while the closest is goods.

Estimated salary equivalent in Los Angeles, CA

$50,000 in Houston, TX$57,606
$75,000 in Houston, TX$86,410
$100,000 in Houston, TX$115,213
$150,000 in Houston, TX$172,819
$200,000 in Houston, TX$230,426

Each row shows the estimated salary equivalent in Los Angeles, CA, based on regional price levels, for the amount earned in Houston, TX.

Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Common questions

Is Los Angeles, CA cheaper than Houston, TX?

No — Los Angeles, CA has an overall cost-of-living index of 113.6 versus 98.6 for Houston, TX, making it about 15% more expensive.

What is the estimated salary equivalent for $100,000 in Houston, TX if you moved to Los Angeles, CA?

About $115,213, based on regional price levels — a $100,000 salary in Houston, TX has approximately the same purchasing power as $115,213 in Los Angeles, CA. This is an estimate and does not account for taxes, household size, or personal spending habits.

Is housing cheaper in Los Angeles, CA than in Houston, TX?

Housing rents in Los Angeles, CA score 170.4 versus 104.5 in Houston, TX — about 63% more expensive. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

What is the cost of living difference between Houston, TX and Los Angeles, CA?

Overall, Los Angeles, CA is about 15% pricier than Houston, TX (index 113.6 vs 98.6), with housing 63% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.