City comparison
Houston vs Denver Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Houston (105.8) and Denver (123.4).
Houston Index
105.8
Denver Index
123.4
Houston Rent
$2,175
Denver Rent
$2,900
Houston Home price
$390,000
Denver Home price
$549,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Houston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Denver.
Equivalent salary in Denver
$97,974
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Houston and Denver.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Houston | Denver | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 118 | 159 | +41.0 (+34.7%) |
| Groceries | 97 | 108 | +11.0 (+11.3%) |
| Transportation | 104 | 105 | +1.0 (+1.0%) |
| Healthcare | 96 | 102 | +6.0 (+6.3%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 97 | -4.0 (-4.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 99 | 108 | +9.0 (+9.1%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$4,740 / $5,610
Houston / Denver
Couple
$7,870 / $9,310
Houston / Denver
Family
$11,090 / $13,130
Houston / Denver
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Houston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Houston.
View Denver city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Denver.
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.