City comparison
Houston vs Chicago Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Houston (105.8) and Chicago (113.6).
Houston Index
105.8
Chicago Index
113.6
Houston Rent
$2,175
Chicago Rent
$2,375
Houston Home price
$390,000
Chicago Home price
$377,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Houston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Chicago.
Equivalent salary in Chicago
$90,193
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Houston and Chicago.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Houston | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 118 | 128 | +10.0 (+8.5%) |
| Groceries | 97 | 106 | +9.0 (+9.3%) |
| Transportation | 104 | 112 | +8.0 (+7.7%) |
| Healthcare | 96 | 104 | +8.0 (+8.3%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | +0.0 (+0.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 99 | 105 | +6.0 (+6.1%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$4,740 / $5,130
Houston / Chicago
Couple
$7,870 / $8,520
Houston / Chicago
Family
$11,090 / $12,000
Houston / Chicago
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Houston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Houston.
View Chicago city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Chicago.
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.