City comparison
New York vs Houston Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between New York (166.9) and Houston (105.8).
New York Index
166.9
Houston Index
105.8
New York Rent
$4,850
Houston Rent
$2,175
New York Home price
$787,000
Houston Home price
$390,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in New York to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Houston.
Equivalent salary in Houston
$90,649
Based on the relative overall cost of living between New York and Houston.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | New York | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 245 | 118 | -127.0 (-51.8%) |
| Groceries | 138 | 97 | -41.0 (-29.7%) |
| Transportation | 121 | 104 | -17.0 (-14.0%) |
| Healthcare | 117 | 96 | -21.0 (-17.9%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 101 | -11.0 (-9.8%) |
| Miscellaneous | 134 | 99 | -35.0 (-26.1%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,110 / $4,740
New York / Houston
Couple
$13,620 / $7,870
New York / Houston
Family
$19,870 / $11,090
New York / Houston
Frequently Asked Questions
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View New York city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for New York.
View Houston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Houston.
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.