Cost of Living in Houston, TX

Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.

Price level
98.6
U.S. average = 100 · #101 of 387
Median wage
$49,410
all jobs · $3,490/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,316
HUD fair market rent

Salary comparison calculator

What would you need to earn in Houston, TX to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?

Cost of living calculator

Uses BEA price levels plus 2026 federal and state taxes in each city's state.

Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
—

    Prices in Houston, TX vs. the U.S. average

    CategoryIndex (U.S. = 100)Difference
    All items98.6−1.4%
    Housing104.5+4.5%
    Goods100.6+0.6%
    Utilities95.3−4.7%
    Other services95.6−4.4%

    Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

    Rent in Houston, TX

    UnitMonthly rentIncome needed (30% rule)
    Studio$1,267$50,680/yr
    1 bedroom$1,316$52,640/yr
    2 bedrooms$1,558$62,320/yr
    3 bedrooms$2,097$83,880/yr
    4 bedrooms$2,614$104,560/yr

    HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.

    Take-home pay in Houston, TX

    Paycheck in Houston, TX
    Deductions, kids & local tax

    2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

    Your take-home pay
    $41,881
    per year · effective tax rate 15.2%
    $3,490Monthly
    $1,745Twice a month
    $1,611Every 2 weeks
    $20.14Hourly
    • Federal income tax$3,749
    • Social Security (6.2%)$3,063
    • Medicare (1.45%)$716
    • Texas income tax$0
    • Take-home pay$41,881

    Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

    Highest-paying jobs in Houston, TX

    JobMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
    Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$239,200+$219,995$223,053
    Physicians, All Other$239,200+$210,472$213,397
    Nurse Anesthetist$239,200+$199,708$202,485
    Chief Executive$239,200+$199,683$202,459
    General Internal Medicine Physician$239,200+$199,145$201,913
    Anesthesiologist$210,230$156,461$158,636
    Cardiologist$187,550$139,646$141,587
    Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$174,490$130,530$132,344
    Computer and Information Systems Manager$172,160$128,937$130,730
    Architectural and Engineering Manager$172,020$128,842$130,633
    Petroleum Engineer$169,870$127,372$129,143
    Financial Manager$166,910$125,349$127,091
    Lawyer$157,980$119,245$120,903
    Marketing Manager$153,030$115,862$117,473
    Compensation and Benefits Manager$148,870$113,019$114,590
    Managers, All Other$144,820$110,250$111,783
    Human Resources Manager$142,110$108,398$109,905
    Pharmacist$140,470$107,277$108,768
    Database Architect$139,100$106,341$107,819
    Purchasing Manager$139,050$106,307$107,784

    *In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is Houston, TX expensive to live in?

    According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area are 98.6% of the U.S. average, with housing at 104.5%. It is the #101 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.

    What salary do you need to live in Houston, TX?

    To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $59,177 in Houston, TX (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $49,410.

    How much is rent in Houston, TX?

    HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Houston, TX are $1,267 for a studio, $1,316 for one bedroom, $1,558 for two bedrooms and $2,097 for three bedrooms, including utilities.

    All salaries in Houston, TX

    Management Occupations

    Business and Financial Operations Occupations

    Computer and Mathematical Occupations

    Architecture and Engineering Occupations

    Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

    Community and Social Service Occupations

    Legal Occupations

    Educational Instruction and Library Occupations

    Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations

    Healthcare Support Occupations

    Protective Service Occupations

    Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations

    Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations

    Personal Care and Service Occupations

    Sales and Related Occupations

    Office and Administrative Support Occupations

    Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations

    Construction and Extraction Occupations

    Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations

    Production Occupations

    Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

    Other cities in Texas

    Texas paycheck calculator →