Cost of living · head to head
Phoenix, AZ is 5% pricier than Houston, TX.
Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average.
Houston, TXoverall index
98.6
Phoenix, AZoverall index
103.3
Try your own salary
in Houston, TX
To live the same in Phoenix, AZ, you’d need about $104,767.
That’s about $4,767 more — Phoenix, AZ is pricier.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 5%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Phoenix, AZ runs 16% higher than in Houston, TX (121.2 vs 104.5), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people the rent or mortgage line moves the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.
Salary you’d need in Phoenix, AZ
| $50,000 in Houston, TX | $52,383 |
| $75,000 in Houston, TX | $78,575 |
| $100,000 in Houston, TX | $104,767 |
| $150,000 in Houston, TX | $157,150 |
| $200,000 in Houston, TX | $209,533 |
Each row shows the salary in Phoenix, AZ that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Houston, TX.
Houston, TX · housing
104.5
Phoenix, AZ · housing
121.2
Common questions
Is Phoenix, AZ cheaper than Houston, TX?
No — Phoenix, AZ has an overall cost-of-living index of 103.3 versus 98.6 for Houston, TX, making it about 5% more expensive.
How much do you need to earn in Phoenix, AZ to match $100,000 in Houston, TX?
About $104,767. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Houston, TX costs roughly $104,767 in Phoenix, AZ.
Is housing cheaper in Phoenix, AZ than in Houston, TX?
Housing in Phoenix, AZ scores 121.2 versus 104.5 in Houston, TX — about 16% more expensive. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Houston, TX and Phoenix, AZ?
Overall, Phoenix, AZ is about 5% pricier than Houston, TX (index 103.3 vs 98.6), with housing 16% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.