Cost of living comparison
California is 18.8% more expensive than Houston.
- Restaurants
-
pay 14.9% more in California
- Groceries
-
pay 30.0% more in California
- Transportation
-
pay 9.9% more in California
- Housing
-
pay 35.2% more in California
- Childcare
-
pay 24.9% more in California
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 22.8% more in California
- Clothing
-
pay 5.9% less in California
The cost of housing, groceries, childcare, entertainment and sports, restaurants, and transportation in California are more expensive than in Houston.
If you lived in California instead of Houston, you would:
pay 14.9% more for restaurants
|
Houston
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.00
|
$21.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.00
|
$11.52
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.53
|
$2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.00
|
$2.16
|
|
pay 30.0% more for groceries
|
Houston
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.97
|
$4.14
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.39
|
$6.95
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.43
|
$4.61
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.53
|
$4.33
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.15
|
$5.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.99
|
$2.34
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.58
|
$0.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.72
|
$1.91
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.28
|
$2.38
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.30
|
$1.39
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.07
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 9.9% more for transportation
|
Houston
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$2.88
|
$4.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$62.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$36,278.39
|
$30,005.28
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$18.79
|
$20.07
|
|
pay 35.2% more for housing
|
Houston
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$66.71
|
$68.54
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,582.84
|
$2,371.29
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,189.12
|
$2,055.18
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.41
|
$171.68
|
|
pay 24.9% more for childcare
|
Houston
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,457.58
|
$1,682.51
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$23,000.00
|
$30,905.75
|
|
pay 22.8% more for entertainment and sports
|
Houston
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.00
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.27
|
$5.34
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.97
|
$10.91
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$39.65
|
$66.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$14.41
|
|
pay 5.9% less for clothing
|
Houston
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.14
|
$52.77
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$43.00
|
$40.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$103.28
|
$85.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$132.12
|
$117.31
|
|
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