Cost of Living in Houston, TX
| Cost of Living in Houston, TX | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 2% lower | 20% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 11% lower | 8% lower |
| Food | 4% higher | 1% lower |
| Healthcare | 2% higher | 0% |
| Transportation | 1% lower | 5% lower |
| Goods & Services | 7% higher | 3% higher |
The cost of living in Houston, TX is 2% higher than the state average and 6% lower than the national average. Houston, TX housing is 20% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 8% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 1% cheaper in Houston, TX than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 3% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 0% here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 3% pricier in Houston, TX.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Houston is $1,355, while home prices circle around $407,301.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Houston, energy bills cost around $178.25 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.62 in Houston, a dozen eggs go for around $3.81 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.81.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Houston, an optometry check-up costs around $158.73, while a dentist appointment is priced $139.36 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.89 in Houston, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $69.79.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $49.19 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $51.37.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Houston, you should budget around $12.03 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $28.23, while dry cleaning costs about $14.94.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Houston, the median household income is $62,894.