Last updated 2026-06-12 ยท MovePlan Editorial Team
Below the national average, with no state income tax and genuinely affordable housing.
Cost of living index (US avg = 100): 96
Median 2BR rent: $1,800/mo
Housing: 95 vs 100
Groceries: 96 vs 100
Utilities: 108 vs 100
Transportation: 99 vs 100
Healthcare: 95 vs 100
Houston pairs big homes and low housing costs with no state income tax, which stretches a paycheck further than most major metros. The trade-offs are heat, humidity, and a car-first layout.