Cost of living in Houston

In Houston, United States, a single person typically needs around $2248 per month including rent. A family of four may spend about $5589 monthly.

How expensive is Houston compared to other cities?

Compared to the European benchmark, Houston is 57% more expensive overall.

How does Houston compare to your city?

Houston is 35% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in Houston is, on average, 49% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Houston?

Who is Houston a good fit for?

Houston tends to fit higher-income residents who can comfortably absorb housing costs. It can be challenging on a moderate budget, mainly due to rent and utilities.

FAQ

Why is Houston so expensive?

The high cost of living in Houston is primarily driven by elevated rent and utilities. This significantly impacts overall expenses for residents.

Is food expensive in Houston?

Food costs in Houston are 18% higher than the European benchmark. This can affect overall budgeting for residents.

Is public transport affordable in Houston?

Public transport in Houston is 169% higher than the European benchmark. This makes commuting a considerable expense for residents.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
2248 $
Without Rent
923 $
Rent & Utilities
1325 $
Food
564 $
Transport
201 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
4672 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
2.3M

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 16.2 $
Dinner 66.3 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 9.71 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 5.52 $
Capuccino 5.31 $
Coke, 330ml 2.49 $

Compare Houston with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 0.92 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 3.07 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.33 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.95 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 12.7 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 11.3 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 16.9 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.51 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.3 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.69 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.02 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.71 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.43 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.46 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 3.15 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 14.9 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.02 $
Cigarette pack 8.66 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 1.25 $
Monthly Pass 71.1 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 0.79 $
Taxi, 8 km 21.7 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 110 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 9.31 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 5.09 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 3.86 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2.26 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 132 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 200 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 68 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 1,059 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 2,036 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,392 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 2,964 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 2,925 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 2,076 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 4,672 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.66%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 37.9 $
Cinema, 1 seat 14.7 $
Haircut 19.9 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 103 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 49.2 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 1,368 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 22,908 $

Compare Houston with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Houston vs George Town (George Town is 62% more expensive)
Bahamas
Houston vs Nassau (Nassau is 23% more expensive) Houston vs Freeport (Freeport is 2% less expensive)
Vanuatu
Houston vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 4% more expensive) Houston vs Luganville (Luganville is 36% more expensive)
United States
Houston vs New York City (New York City is 80% more expensive) Houston vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 42% more expensive) Houston vs Chicago (Chicago is 19% more expensive) Houston vs Houston (Houston has similar costs) Houston vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 5% more expensive) Houston vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 13% more expensive) Houston vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 2% less expensive) Houston vs San Diego (San Diego is 49% more expensive) Houston vs Dallas (Dallas is 13% more expensive) Houston vs San Jose (San Jose is 63% more expensive)
Canada
Houston vs Toronto (Toronto is 15% more expensive) Houston vs Montreal (Montreal is 13% less expensive) Houston vs Calgary (Calgary is 4% less expensive) Houston vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 1% less expensive) Houston vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 21% less expensive) Houston vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 22% less expensive) Houston vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 10% more expensive) Houston vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 18% more expensive) Houston vs Brampton (Brampton is 5% less expensive) Houston vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 4% less expensive)
Barbados
Houston vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 40% less expensive) Houston vs Holetown (Holetown is 38% less expensive)
Panama
Houston vs Panama City (Panama City is 38% less expensive) Houston vs Colon (Colon is 47% less expensive) Houston vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 45% less expensive) Houston vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 53% less expensive) Houston vs David (David is 63% less expensive) Houston vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 58% less expensive) Houston vs Balboa (Balboa is 44% less expensive) Houston vs Pacora (Pacora is 44% less expensive) Houston vs Chitre (Chitre is 51% less expensive) Houston vs Penonome (Penonome is 51% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Houston vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 45% less expensive) Houston vs Cayon (Cayon is 45% less expensive)
Cuba
Houston vs Havana (Havana is 54% less expensive) Houston vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 37% less expensive) Houston vs Holguin (Holguin is 43% less expensive) Houston vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 32% less expensive) Houston vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 53% less expensive) Houston vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 48% less expensive) Houston vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 31% less expensive) Houston vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 31% less expensive) Houston vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 51% less expensive) Houston vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 61% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Houston vs San Jose (San Jose is 45% less expensive) Houston vs Limon (Limon is 47% less expensive) Houston vs Liberia (Liberia is 60% less expensive) Houston vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 45% less expensive) Houston vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 43% less expensive) Houston vs Cartago (Cartago is 57% less expensive) Houston vs Heredia (Heredia is 45% less expensive) Houston vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 25% less expensive) Houston vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 42% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Houston vs Castries (Castries is 48% less expensive) Houston vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 47% less expensive)
Jamaica
Houston vs Kingston (Kingston is 41% less expensive) Houston vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 65% less expensive) Houston vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 55% less expensive) Houston vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 48% less expensive) Houston vs May Pen (May Pen is 63% less expensive) Houston vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 56% less expensive) Houston vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 62% less expensive) Houston vs Linstead (Linstead is 53% less expensive) Houston vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 50% less expensive) Houston vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 49% less expensive)
El Salvador
Houston vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 47% less expensive) Houston vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 68% less expensive) Houston vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 48% less expensive) Houston vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 52% less expensive) Houston vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 48% less expensive) Houston vs Apopa (Apopa is 49% less expensive) Houston vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 47% less expensive) Houston vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 35% less expensive) Houston vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 52% less expensive) Houston vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 61% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Houston vs St. John's (St. John's is 52% less expensive) Houston vs All Saints (All Saints is 52% less expensive)
Grenada
Houston vs St. George's (St. George's is 53% less expensive) Houston vs Grenville (Grenville is 53% less expensive)
Dominica
Houston vs Roseau (Roseau is 55% less expensive) Houston vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 49% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Houston vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 56% less expensive) Houston vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 55% less expensive)
Belize
Houston vs Belize City (Belize City is 61% less expensive) Houston vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 52% less expensive) Houston vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 68% less expensive) Houston vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 41% less expensive) Houston vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 30% less expensive)
Guatemala
Houston vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 55% less expensive) Houston vs Mixco (Mixco is 72% less expensive) Houston vs Coban (Coban is 59% less expensive) Houston vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 65% less expensive) Houston vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 60% less expensive) Houston vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 60% less expensive) Houston vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 61% less expensive) Houston vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 61% less expensive) Houston vs Flores (Flores is 62% less expensive) Houston vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 65% less expensive)
Honduras
Houston vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 63% less expensive) Houston vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 54% less expensive) Houston vs Choloma (Choloma is 73% less expensive) Houston vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 71% less expensive) Houston vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 61% less expensive) Houston vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 61% less expensive) Houston vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 68% less expensive) Houston vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 68% less expensive) Houston vs Yoro (Yoro is 67% less expensive) Houston vs La Lima (La Lima is 61% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Houston vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 65% less expensive) Houston vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 53% less expensive) Houston vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 66% less expensive) Houston vs Higuey (Higuey is 66% less expensive) Houston vs La Vega (La Vega is 75% less expensive) Houston vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 63% less expensive) Houston vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 67% less expensive) Houston vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 77% less expensive) Houston vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 72% less expensive) Houston vs Bonao (Bonao is 76% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Houston vs Managua (Managua is 66% less expensive) Houston vs Leon (Leon is 72% less expensive) Houston vs Masaya (Masaya is 68% less expensive) Houston vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 76% less expensive) Houston vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 72% less expensive) Houston vs Esteli (Esteli is 74% less expensive) Houston vs Granada (Granada is 69% less expensive) Houston vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 80% less expensive) Houston vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 70% less expensive) Houston vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 60% less expensive)