Cost of Living in Houston, TX
| Cost of Living in Houston, TX | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 0% | 17% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 3% lower | 0% |
| Food | 6% higher | 0% |
| Healthcare | 0% | 5% lower |
| Transportation | 6% lower | 9% lower |
| Goods & Services | 5% higher | 1% 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 17% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 0% . When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 0% in Houston, TX than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 1% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 5% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 1% 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 $399,944.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Houston, energy bills cost around $185.93 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 $4.70 in Houston, a dozen eggs go for around $3.97 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.85.
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 $126.69, while a dentist appointment is priced $122.22 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.92 in Houston, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $60.56.
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 $43.94 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $45.01.
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 $11.31 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $25.99, while dry cleaning costs about $11.62.
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 $60,440.