City comparison
Houston vs Los Angeles Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Houston (105.8) and Los Angeles (148.5).
Houston Index
105.8
Los Angeles Index
148.5
Houston Rent
$2,175
Los Angeles Rent
$4,025
Houston Home price
$390,000
Los Angeles Home price
$730,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Houston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Los Angeles.
Equivalent salary in Los Angeles
$117,902
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Houston and Los Angeles.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Houston | Los Angeles | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 118 | 208 | +90.0 (+76.3%) |
| Groceries | 97 | 123 | +26.0 (+26.8%) |
| Transportation | 104 | 118 | +14.0 (+13.5%) |
| Healthcare | 96 | 111 | +15.0 (+15.6%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 109 | +8.0 (+7.9%) |
| Miscellaneous | 99 | 121 | +22.0 (+22.2%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$4,740 / $7,070
Houston / Los Angeles
Couple
$7,870 / $11,740
Houston / Los Angeles
Family
$11,090 / $16,540
Houston / Los Angeles
Frequently Asked Questions
Related comparisons
Houston vs Charlotte
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Houston and Charlotte.
Houston vs Tampa
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Houston and Tampa.
Houston vs Atlanta
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Houston and Atlanta.
View Houston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Houston.
View Los Angeles city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Los Angeles.
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.