Cost of Living: Houston, TX vs Los Angeles, CA
Houston is about 13% cheaper than Los Angeles overall.
Comparing Houston, TX and Los Angeles, CA across cost of living, rent, income, and the salary needed to live comfortably. Houston has a lower overall price level, driven mainly by housing.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | Houston | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 98.6 | 113.6 |
| Median rent | $1,313 | $1,879 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom (FMR) | $891 | $2,328 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom (FMR) | $1,095 | $2,903 |
| Median home value | $253,400 | $879,500 |
| Median household income | $62,894 | $80,366 |
| Salary needed (single) | $35,600 | $93,100 |
| Salary needed (family) | $63,300 | $147,200 |
Green highlights the more favorable value for each metric. Lower is better for costs; higher is better for income. Figures are estimates from public data (BEA, Census, HUD).
Which City Is More Affordable?
Overall, Houston is the more affordable of the two, with a cost-of-living index of 98.6 versus 113.6 for Los Angeles. The biggest difference is usually housing, where rents in Los Angeles run noticeably higher.
You can read the full breakdown for each city on its own page: cost of living in Houston and cost of living in Los Angeles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Los Angeles?
Houston is about 13% cheaper than Los Angeles overall, based on the BEA cost-of-living index (Houston: 98.6 vs Los Angeles: 113.6).
What is the rent difference between Houston and Los Angeles?
The median rent is $1,313 in Houston and $1,879 in Los Angeles.
How much salary do you need in Houston vs Los Angeles?
A single person needs about $35,600 in Houston and $93,100 in Los Angeles to live comfortably.
Data Sources
Cost-of-living index from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (Regional Price Parities). Income, rent, and home value from the U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-Year). Fair Market Rents from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.