Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Houston, TX 

Indices DifferenceInfo
Cost of Living in Houston, TX is 35.1% lower than in New York, NY (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in Houston, TX is 44.5% lower than in New York, NY
Rent Prices in Houston, TX are 56.2% lower than in New York, NY
Restaurant Prices in Houston, TX are 27.9% lower than in New York, NY
Groceries Prices in Houston, TX are 34.4% lower than in New York, NY
Local Purchasing Power in Houston, TX is 49.4% higher than in New York, NY
Currency: Sticky Currency      Switch to metric measurement units
Restaurants
New York, NY Edit Houston, TX Edit Difference
Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant 25.00 $ 20.00 $      -20.0 %
Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) 140.00 $ 80.00 $      -42.9 %
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) 14.00 $ 10.00 $      -28.6 %
Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) 8.00 $ 6.00 $      -25.0 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 10.00 $ 7.00 $      -30.0 %
Cappuccino (Regular Size) 5.63 $ 5.52 $      -1.9 %
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) 3.17 $ 2.79 $      -12.1 %
Bottled Water (12 oz) 2.55 $ 2.22 $      -12.7 %
Markets
New York, NY Edit Houston, TX Edit
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) 1.54 $ 0.90 $      -41.5 %
Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) 4.42 $ 2.90 $      -34.4 %
White Rice (1 lb) 3.72 $ 1.80 $      -51.5 %
Eggs (12, Large Size) 7.16 $ 4.51 $      -37.0 %
Local Cheese (1 lb) 7.79 $ 5.77 $      -25.9 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 6.92 $ 5.27 $      -23.9 %
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) 9.27 $ 7.85 $      -15.4 %
Apples (1 lb) 3.21 $ 1.85 $      -42.4 %
Bananas (1 lb) 1.13 $ 0.69 $      -39.2 %
Oranges (1 lb) 2.61 $ 1.62 $      -37.9 %
Tomatoes (1 lb) 2.71 $ 1.21 $      -55.2 %
Potatoes (1 lb) 1.70 $ 1.29 $      -23.9 %
Onions (1 lb) 1.68 $ 1.14 $      -32.1 %
Lettuce (1 Head) 3.12 $ 1.75 $      -43.9 %
Bottled Water (50 oz) 2.64 $ 2.13 $      -19.4 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 18.00 $ 12.48 $      -30.7 %
Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) 3.31 $ 2.32 $      -29.9 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 4.34 $ 3.62 $      -16.7 %
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) 19.00 $ 9.46 $      -50.2 %
Transportation
New York, NY Edit Houston, TX Edit
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) 2.90 $ 1.25 $      -56.9 %
Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) 132.00 $ 75.00 $      -43.2 %
Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) 3.00 $ 2.91 $      -3.0 %
Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) 3.50 $ 2.31 $      -33.9 %
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) 42.00 $ 24.00 $      -42.9 %
Gasoline (1 Liter) 0.89 $ 0.73 $      -17.7 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) 35,458.00 $ 36,232.00 $      +2.2 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) 25,440.74 $ 26,333.81 $      +3.5 %
Utilities (Monthly)
New York, NY Edit Houston, TX Edit
Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) 193.29 $ 202.08 $      +4.5 %
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) 60.36 $ 61.54 $      +2.0 %
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) 63.12 $ 70.76 $      +12.1 %
Sports And Leisure
New York, NY Edit Houston, TX Edit
Monthly Fitness Club Membership 129.54 $ 38.83 $      -70.0 %
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) 47.22 $ 18.50 $      -60.8 %
Cinema Ticket (International Release) 22.00 $ 15.00 $      -31.8 %
Childcare
New York, NY Edit Houston, TX Edit
Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child 3,429.54 $ 1,652.08 $      -51.8 %
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child 58,332.82 $ 22,233.33 $      -61.9 %
Clothing And Shoes
New York, NY Edit Houston, TX Edit
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) 66.67 $ 45.91 $      -31.1 %
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) 54.92 $ 40.22 $      -26.8 %
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 117.04 $ 102.64 $      -12.3 %
Men's Leather Business Shoes 157.86 $ 110.56 $      -30.0 %
Rent Per Month
New York, NY Edit Houston, TX Edit
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 4,256.90 $ 1,713.08 $      -59.8 %
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 2,486.46 $ 1,342.63 $      -46.0 %
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 8,410.42 $ 3,312.86 $      -60.6 %
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 4,919.57 $ 2,432.50 $      -50.6 %
Buy Apartment Price
New York, NY Edit Houston, TX Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 1,816.35 $ 242.65 $      -86.6 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 689.16 $ 179.99 $      -73.9 %
Salaries And Financing
New York, NY Edit Houston, TX Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 5,414.47 $ 4,492.80 $      -17.0 %
Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) 6.42 6.42      -0.1 %
Last update: 13 December 202513 December 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:370212