City comparison
Chicago vs Houston Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Chicago (113.6) and Houston (105.8).
Chicago Index
113.6
Houston Index
105.8
Chicago Rent
$2,375
Houston Rent
$2,175
Chicago Home price
$377,000
Houston Home price
$390,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Chicago to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Houston.
Equivalent salary in Houston
$84,752
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Chicago and Houston.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Chicago | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 128 | 118 | -10.0 (-7.8%) |
| Groceries | 106 | 97 | -9.0 (-8.5%) |
| Transportation | 112 | 104 | -8.0 (-7.1%) |
| Healthcare | 104 | 96 | -8.0 (-7.7%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | +0.0 (+0.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 105 | 99 | -6.0 (-5.7%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,130 / $4,740
Chicago / Houston
Couple
$8,520 / $7,870
Chicago / Houston
Family
$12,000 / $11,090
Chicago / Houston
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Chicago city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Chicago.
View Houston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Houston.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.