Cost of living comparison
Houston is 1.4% cheaper than Pennsylvania.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.5% more in Houston
- Groceries
-
pay 16.1% less in Houston
- Transportation
-
pay 0.5% less in Houston
- Housing
-
pay 8.3% more in Houston
- Childcare
-
pay 18.5% less in Houston
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 1.4% more in Houston
- Clothing
-
pay 12.3% more in Houston
The cost of clothing, housing, restaurants, and entertainment and sports in Houston are more expensive than in Pennsylvania. Expenses including childcare, groceries, and transportation are lower in Houston.
If you lived in Houston instead of Pennsylvania, you would:
pay 3.5% more for restaurants
|
Pennsylvania
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$19.53
|
$18.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.30
|
$9.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.27
|
$2.53
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.76
|
$2.00
|
|
pay 16.1% less for groceries
|
Pennsylvania
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.25
|
$2.97
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.37
|
$6.39
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.35
|
$3.43
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.27
|
$3.53
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.36
|
$5.15
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.43
|
$1.99
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.72
|
$0.58
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$1.72
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.35
|
$1.28
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.41
|
$1.30
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.45
|
$1.07
|
|
pay 0.5% less for transportation
|
Pennsylvania
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.58
|
$2.88
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$66.58
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,817.25
|
$36,278.39
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.67
|
$18.79
|
|
pay 8.3% more for housing
|
Pennsylvania
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$62.16
|
$66.71
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,357.77
|
$1,582.84
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,179.21
|
$1,189.12
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$136.88
|
$148.41
|
|
pay 18.5% less for childcare
|
Pennsylvania
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,481.93
|
$1,457.58
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$35,614.17
|
$23,000.00
|
|
pay 1.4% more for entertainment and sports
|
Pennsylvania
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.58
|
$5.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.03
|
$5.27
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.13
|
$9.97
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$34.60
|
$39.65
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.87
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 12.3% more for clothing
|
Pennsylvania
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.27
|
$47.14
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.31
|
$43.00
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.69
|
$103.28
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$103.12
|
$132.12
|
|
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