City comparison
Tampa vs Houston Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Tampa (109.3) and Houston (105.8).
Tampa Index
109.3
Houston Index
105.8
Tampa Rent
$2,350
Houston Rent
$2,175
Tampa Home price
$422,000
Houston Home price
$390,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Tampa to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Houston.
Equivalent salary in Houston
$84,214
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Tampa and Houston.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Tampa | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 127 | 118 | -9.0 (-7.1%) |
| Groceries | 100 | 97 | -3.0 (-3.0%) |
| Transportation | 99 | 104 | +5.0 (+5.1%) |
| Healthcare | 99 | 96 | -3.0 (-3.0%) |
| Utilities | 104 | 101 | -3.0 (-2.9%) |
| Miscellaneous | 100 | 99 | -1.0 (-1.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$4,930 / $4,740
Tampa / Houston
Couple
$8,180 / $7,870
Tampa / Houston
Family
$11,540 / $11,090
Tampa / Houston
Frequently Asked Questions
Related comparisons
Tampa vs Atlanta
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Tampa and Atlanta.
Tampa vs Charlotte
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Tampa and Charlotte.
Tampa vs Dallas
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Tampa and Dallas.
View Tampa city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Tampa.
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.