What is the cost of living in Houston, TX?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Houston has an overall cost of living index of 104, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Texas, Houston has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Texas's index of 93.
The standard of living in Houston ranks as #284 most affordable out of the 419 places we measured in Texas. By definition, that implies Houston ranks as the #135 most expensive place in the Lone Star State.
For more reading on life in Houston, check out:
Houston Cost Of Living Vs. Texas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Houston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Houston is 104.
The Groceries index in Houston is 98.
The Health index in Houston is 106.
The Housing index in Houston is 102.
The Transportation index in Houston is 104.
The Utilities index in Houston is 98.
| Living Expense | Houston | Texas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 104 | 93 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 106 | 81 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 100 | 100 |
Houston Cost Of Living Compared To Texas Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Texas, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Houston Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Houston, TX Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Texas, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Houston is $264,336.
The Median Rent in Houston is $1,361.
The Median Income in Houston is $64,813.
The Home Value To Income in Houston is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Houston is 0.25x.
Houston, TX Costs By Category
Detailed Houston Services costs vs. Texas
Detailed Houston Groceries costs vs. Texas
Detailed Houston Health costs vs. Texas
Detailed Houston Transportation costs vs. Texas
Houston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Houston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Houston. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Pearland, TX has a cost of living index of 111, 1.1x Houston.
Sugar Land, TX has a cost of living index of 126, 1.2x Houston.
Atascocita, TX has a cost of living index of 105, 1.0x Houston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Houston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pearland, TX | 127,514 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Sugar Land, TX | 110,016 | 126 | 1.2x |
| Atascocita, TX | 99,354 | 105 | 1.0x |
| Mission Bend, TX | 36,586 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Deer Park, TX | 33,967 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Fresno, TX | 24,560 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Bellaire, TX | 17,206 | 185 | 1.8x |
| West University Place, TX | 14,982 | 236 | 2.3x |
| Four Corners, TX | 11,692 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Galena Park, TX | 10,487 | 88 | 0.8x |
