City comparison
San Francisco vs Houston Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Francisco (177.2) and Houston (105.8).
San Francisco Index
177.2
Houston Index
105.8
San Francisco Rent
$5,250
Houston Rent
$2,175
San Francisco Home price
$935,000
Houston Home price
$390,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Francisco to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Houston.
Equivalent salary in Houston
$89,560
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Francisco and Houston.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Francisco | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 276 | 118 | -158.0 (-57.2%) |
| Groceries | 137 | 97 | -40.0 (-29.2%) |
| Transportation | 125 | 104 | -21.0 (-16.8%) |
| Healthcare | 114 | 96 | -18.0 (-15.8%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 101 | -11.0 (-9.8%) |
| Miscellaneous | 132 | 99 | -33.0 (-25.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,510 / $4,740
San Francisco / Houston
Couple
$14,470 / $7,870
San Francisco / Houston
Family
$21,280 / $11,090
San Francisco / Houston
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Francisco city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Francisco.
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.