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Cost of living · head to head

Washington, DC is approximately 10% 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 Washington, DC metropolitan areas, not city limits.

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Houston, TXoverall index
98.6
Washington, DCoverall index
108.9
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 $110,446 in Washington, DC, based on regional price levels.
In plain terms: Washington, DC is more expensive than Houston, TX, so you’d need about $110,446 there to match the lifestyle $100,000 buys in Houston, TX — same groceries, same rent level, same everyday spending. That’s ~$10,400 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 10%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing rents in Washington, DC run 45% higher than in Houston, TX (151.1 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, TXWashington, DCDifference
Overall98.6108.9+10%
Goods100.6104.8+4%
Housing rents104.5151.1+45%
Utilities95.3106.7+12%
Other services95.6102.3+7%

Washington, DC differs from Houston, TX the most in housing rents — about 45% higher in Washington, DC — while the closest is goods.

Estimated salary equivalent in Washington, DC

$50,000 in Houston, TX$55,223
$75,000 in Houston, TX$82,835
$100,000 in Houston, TX$110,446
$150,000 in Houston, TX$165,669
$200,000 in Houston, TX$220,892

Each row shows the estimated salary equivalent in Washington, DC, 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 Washington, DC cheaper than Houston, TX?

No — Washington, DC has an overall cost-of-living index of 108.9 versus 98.6 for Houston, TX, making it about 10% more expensive.

What is the estimated salary equivalent for $100,000 in Houston, TX if you moved to Washington, DC?

About $110,446, based on regional price levels — a $100,000 salary in Houston, TX has approximately the same purchasing power as $110,446 in Washington, DC. This is an estimate and does not account for taxes, household size, or personal spending habits.

Is housing cheaper in Washington, DC than in Houston, TX?

Housing rents in Washington, DC score 151.1 versus 104.5 in Houston, TX — about 45% 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 Washington, DC?

Overall, Washington, DC is about 10% pricier than Houston, TX (index 108.9 vs 98.6), with housing 45% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.