City comparison
Denver vs Houston Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Denver (123.4) and Houston (105.8).
Denver Index
123.4
Houston Index
105.8
Denver Rent
$2,900
Houston Rent
$2,175
Denver Home price
$549,000
Houston Home price
$390,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Denver to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Houston.
Equivalent salary in Houston
$84,880
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Denver and Houston.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Denver | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 159 | 118 | -41.0 (-25.8%) |
| Groceries | 108 | 97 | -11.0 (-10.2%) |
| Transportation | 105 | 104 | -1.0 (-1.0%) |
| Healthcare | 102 | 96 | -6.0 (-5.9%) |
| Utilities | 97 | 101 | +4.0 (+4.1%) |
| Miscellaneous | 108 | 99 | -9.0 (-8.3%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,610 / $4,740
Denver / Houston
Couple
$9,310 / $7,870
Denver / Houston
Family
$13,130 / $11,090
Denver / Houston
Frequently Asked Questions
Related comparisons
Denver vs Portland
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Denver and Portland.
Denver vs Austin
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Denver and Austin.
Denver vs Miami
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Denver and Miami.
View Denver city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Denver.
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.