Cost of living comparison
Houston is 0.9% cheaper than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.5% less in Houston
- Groceries
-
pay 13.3% less in Houston
- Transportation
-
pay 3.8% more in Houston
- Housing
-
pay 5.5% less in Houston
- Childcare
-
pay 5.5% more in Houston
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 3.0% less in Houston
- Clothing
-
pay 9.8% more in Houston
The cost of clothing, childcare, and transportation in Houston are more expensive than in United States. Expenses including groceries, housing, restaurants, and entertainment and sports are lower in Houston.
If you lived in Houston instead of United States, you would:
pay 3.5% less for restaurants
|
United States
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.59
|
$18.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.47
|
$9.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.50
|
$2.53
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.96
|
$2.00
|
|
pay 13.3% less for groceries
|
United States
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.49
|
$2.97
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.33
|
$6.39
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.91
|
$3.43
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.56
|
$3.53
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.16
|
$5.15
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.33
|
$1.99
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.78
|
$0.58
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.00
|
$1.72
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.16
|
$1.28
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.34
|
$1.30
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.38
|
$1.07
|
|
pay 3.8% more for transportation
|
United States
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.61
|
$2.88
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$65.15
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,583.67
|
$36,278.39
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.81
|
$18.79
|
|
pay 5.5% less for housing
|
United States
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$67.50
|
$66.71
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,655.99
|
$1,582.84
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,423.40
|
$1,189.12
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.34
|
$148.41
|
|
pay 5.5% more for childcare
|
United States
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,351.84
|
$1,457.58
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,265.44
|
$23,000.00
|
|
pay 3.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
United States
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.78
|
$5.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.04
|
$5.27
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.68
|
$9.97
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$50.84
|
$39.65
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.30
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 9.8% more for clothing
|
United States
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.38
|
$47.14
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.66
|
$43.00
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.52
|
$103.28
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$111.08
|
$132.12
|
|
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