Cost of living in Houston
compared to
#96
City Cost of Living Rank
Index: 63 (New York City = 100)
Cost of living in Houston vs. United States overall average
Houston is 2.1% cheaper than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.0% more in Houston
- Groceries
-
pay 15.1% less in Houston
- Transportation
-
pay 2.5% less in Houston
- Housing
-
pay 2.4% less in Houston
- Childcare
-
pay 1.6% more in Houston
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 1.8% less in Houston
- Clothing
-
pay 2.8% more in Houston
The cost of restaurants, clothing, and childcare in Houston are more expensive than in United States. Expenses including groceries, transportation, housing, and entertainment and sports are lower in Houston.
Houston Cost of Living Breakdown
Restaurants
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant | $20.00 |
$15.00
$15.00
$35.00
$35.00
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.00 |
$9.00
$9.00
$13.00
$13.00
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) | $2.76 |
$2.00
$2.00
$3.50
$3.50
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) | $2.23 |
$2.00
$2.00
$3.00
$3.00
|
Houston - Cost of restaurants
Groceries
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.23 |
$1.10
$1.10
$5.51
$5.51
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) | $6.32 |
$3.31
$3.31
$13.23
$13.23
|
| Milk (1 gallon) | $3.44 |
$2.50
$2.50
$5.00
$5.00
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.35 |
$2.50
$2.50
$7.00
$7.00
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) | $5.20 |
$2.00
$2.00
$8.00
$8.00
|
| Apples (1 lb) | $1.88 |
$0.97
$0.97
$3.00
$3.00
|
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.67 |
$0.47
$0.47
$2.00
$2.00
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | $1.67 |
$0.69
$0.69
$3.00
$3.00
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $1.12 |
$0.50
$0.50
$2.00
$2.00
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.20 |
$0.40
$0.40
$2.50
$2.50
|
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.05 |
$0.50
$0.50
$1.59
$1.59
|
Houston - Cost of groceries
Transportation
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $2.81 |
$2.49
$2.49
$3.49
$3.49
|
| Monthly public transit pass | $75.00 |
$65.22
$65.22
$86.96
$86.96
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | $36,278.39 |
$27,162.00
$27K
$42,000.00
$42K
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | $14.39 |
$14.23
$14.23
$17.82
$17.82
|
Houston - Cost of transportation
Housing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$70.76 |
$50.00
$50.00
$100.00
$100.00
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | $1,660.33 |
$1,200.00
$1K
$2,100.00
$2K
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center | $1,287.77 |
$1,000.00
$1K
$1,700.00
$2K
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$145.65 |
$99.41
$99.41
$272.09
$272.09
|
Houston - Cost of housing
Childcare
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | $1,258.33 |
$850.00
$850.00
$1,650.00
$2K
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | $26,120.00 |
$23,000.00
$23K
$26,900.00
$27K
|
Houston - Cost of childcare
Entertainment and Sports
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) | $6.00 |
$4.50
$4.50
$10.00
$10.00
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area | $5.41 |
$3.00
$3.00
$7.50
$7.50
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.95 |
$8.00
$8.00
$10.00
$10.00
|
| Monthly membership at local gym | $37.29 |
$15.00
$15.00
$90.00
$90.00
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema | $15.00 |
$12.00
$12.00
$17.00
$17.00
|
Houston - Cost of entertainment and sports
Clothing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$45.57 |
$25.00
$25.00
$70.00
$70.00
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.00 |
$20.00
$20.00
$75.00
$75.00
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$98.95 |
$55.00
$55.00
$150.00
$150.00
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | $116.43 |
$75.00
$75.00
$200.00
$200.00
|
Houston - Cost of clothing
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