City comparison
Houston vs Charlotte Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Houston (105.8) and Charlotte (108.1).
Houston Index
105.8
Charlotte Index
108.1
Houston Rent
$2,175
Charlotte Rent
$2,325
Houston Home price
$390,000
Charlotte Home price
$406,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Houston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Charlotte.
Equivalent salary in Charlotte
$85,826
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Houston and Charlotte.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Houston | Charlotte | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 118 | 126 | +8.0 (+6.8%) |
| Groceries | 97 | 99 | +2.0 (+2.1%) |
| Transportation | 104 | 100 | -4.0 (-3.8%) |
| Healthcare | 96 | 97 | +1.0 (+1.0%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 98 | -3.0 (-3.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 99 | 99 | +0.0 (+0.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$4,740 / $4,870
Houston / Charlotte
Couple
$7,870 / $8,080
Houston / Charlotte
Family
$11,090 / $11,400
Houston / Charlotte
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Houston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Houston.
View Charlotte city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Charlotte.
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.