City comparison
Houston vs New York Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Houston (105.8) and New York (166.9).
Houston Index
105.8
New York Index
166.9
Houston Rent
$2,175
New York Rent
$4,850
Houston Home price
$390,000
New York Home price
$787,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Houston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in New York.
Equivalent salary in New York
$132,510
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Houston and New York.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Houston | New York | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 118 | 245 | +127.0 (+107.6%) |
| Groceries | 97 | 138 | +41.0 (+42.3%) |
| Transportation | 104 | 121 | +17.0 (+16.3%) |
| Healthcare | 96 | 117 | +21.0 (+21.9%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 112 | +11.0 (+10.9%) |
| Miscellaneous | 99 | 134 | +35.0 (+35.4%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$4,740 / $8,110
Houston / New York
Couple
$7,870 / $13,620
Houston / New York
Family
$11,090 / $19,870
Houston / New York
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Houston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Houston.
View New York city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for New York.
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.