Cost of living, Houston
98.6
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Houston sits about 1.4% below national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- −1.4%
- Metro
- Houston
- CBSA
- 26420
Houston all-items RPP is 98.6 (2024), about 1.4% below US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $88,740 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Houston
| Component | Houston | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.6 | 100 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 104.5 | 100 |
| Other services | 95.6 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Houston
| At US average | In Houston |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $59,160 |
| $90,000 | $88,740 |
| $150,000 | $147,900 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (98.6 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Houston?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX is 98.6, versus a US average of 100 (−1.4%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $88,740 in Houston for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Physicians, All Other , 7,010 OEWS emp. $292,490
- Chief Executives , 1,920 OEWS emp. $275,270
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 13,090 OEWS emp. $172,160
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 5,330 OEWS emp. $172,020
- Financial Managers , 18,570 OEWS emp. $166,910
- Lawyers , 16,810 OEWS emp. $157,980
See methodology and disclaimer.