City comparison
Houston vs Portland Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Houston (105.8) and Portland (120.2).
Houston Index
105.8
Portland Index
120.2
Houston Rent
$2,175
Portland Rent
$2,675
Houston Home price
$390,000
Portland Home price
$500,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Houston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Portland.
Equivalent salary in Portland
$95,433
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Houston and Portland.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Houston | Portland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 118 | 145 | +27.0 (+22.9%) |
| Groceries | 97 | 112 | +15.0 (+15.5%) |
| Transportation | 104 | 107 | +3.0 (+2.9%) |
| Healthcare | 96 | 104 | +8.0 (+8.3%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | +0.0 (+0.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 99 | 109 | +10.0 (+10.1%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$4,740 / $5,440
Houston / Portland
Couple
$7,870 / $9,030
Houston / Portland
Family
$11,090 / $12,730
Houston / Portland
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 Portland city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Portland.
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.