City comparison
Houston vs Phoenix Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Houston (105.8) and Phoenix (113.5).
Houston Index
105.8
Phoenix Index
113.5
Houston Rent
$2,175
Phoenix Rent
$2,525
Houston Home price
$390,000
Phoenix Home price
$459,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Houston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Phoenix.
Equivalent salary in Phoenix
$90,113
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Houston and Phoenix.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Houston | Phoenix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 118 | 136 | +18.0 (+15.3%) |
| Groceries | 97 | 101 | +4.0 (+4.1%) |
| Transportation | 104 | 103 | -1.0 (-1.0%) |
| Healthcare | 96 | 98 | +2.0 (+2.1%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 108 | +7.0 (+6.9%) |
| Miscellaneous | 99 | 101 | +2.0 (+2.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$4,740 / $5,160
Houston / Phoenix
Couple
$7,870 / $8,570
Houston / Phoenix
Family
$11,090 / $12,070
Houston / Phoenix
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Houston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Houston.
View Phoenix city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Phoenix.
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.