City comparison
Portland vs Houston Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Portland (120.2) and Houston (105.8).
Portland Index
120.2
Houston Index
105.8
Portland Rent
$2,675
Houston Rent
$2,175
Portland Home price
$500,000
Houston Home price
$390,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Portland to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Houston.
Equivalent salary in Houston
$84,499
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Portland and Houston.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Portland | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 145 | 118 | -27.0 (-18.6%) |
| Groceries | 112 | 97 | -15.0 (-13.4%) |
| Transportation | 107 | 104 | -3.0 (-2.8%) |
| Healthcare | 104 | 96 | -8.0 (-7.7%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | +0.0 (+0.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 109 | 99 | -10.0 (-9.2%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,440 / $4,740
Portland / Houston
Couple
$9,030 / $7,870
Portland / Houston
Family
$12,730 / $11,090
Portland / Houston
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Portland city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Portland.
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.