City comparison
Houston vs Seattle Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Houston (105.8) and Seattle (137.2).
Houston Index
105.8
Seattle Index
137.2
Houston Rent
$2,175
Seattle Rent
$3,475
Houston Home price
$390,000
Seattle Home price
$636,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Houston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Seattle.
Equivalent salary in Seattle
$108,930
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Houston and Seattle.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Houston | Seattle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 118 | 184 | +66.0 (+55.9%) |
| Groceries | 97 | 118 | +21.0 (+21.6%) |
| Transportation | 104 | 113 | +9.0 (+8.7%) |
| Healthcare | 96 | 109 | +13.0 (+13.5%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 103 | +2.0 (+2.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 99 | 116 | +17.0 (+17.2%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$4,740 / $6,410
Houston / Seattle
Couple
$7,870 / $10,640
Houston / Seattle
Family
$11,090 / $15,000
Houston / Seattle
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Houston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Houston.
View Seattle city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Seattle.
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.