Cost of Living: Houston, TX vs San Diego, CA
Houston is about 12% cheaper than San Diego overall.
Comparing Houston, TX and San Diego, 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 | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 98.6 | 111.9 |
| Median rent | $1,313 | $2,223 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom (FMR) | $891 | $2,459 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom (FMR) | $1,095 | $3,001 |
| Median home value | $253,400 | $848,500 |
| Median household income | $62,894 | $104,321 |
| Salary needed (single) | $35,600 | $98,400 |
| Salary needed (family) | $63,300 | $159,900 |
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 111.9 for San Diego. The biggest difference is usually housing, where rents in San Diego 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 San Diego.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Houston or San Diego?
Houston is about 12% cheaper than San Diego overall, based on the BEA cost-of-living index (Houston: 98.6 vs San Diego: 111.9).
What is the rent difference between Houston and San Diego?
The median rent is $1,313 in Houston and $2,223 in San Diego.
How much salary do you need in Houston vs San Diego?
A single person needs about $35,600 in Houston and $98,400 in San Diego 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.