Houston vs San Francisco
Cost of Living (2026)

Houston is 146% less expensive than San Francisco. Plus, Texas has no state income tax vs California's 9.3%.

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At a glance

Houston, TX

COL index91 ✓
State income taxNone ✓
Avg 1BR rent$1,250/mo ✓
Median home price$290K ✓
VS

San Francisco, CA

COL index224
State income tax9.3%
Avg 1BR rent$3,600/mo
Median home price$1350K

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryHouston indexSan Francisco indexDifference
Housing118 ✓297+179%
Groceries87 ✓209+122%
Transportation88 ✓205+117%
Healthcare88 ✓215+127%
Utilities89 ✓193+104%

Source: C2ER Cost of Living Index 2026. Index = 100 is US average. ✓ indicates lower cost.

Salary equivalency: Houston → San Francisco

What salary in San Francisco gives you the same purchasing power as your Houston salary?

Salary in HoustonEquivalent in San FranciscoDifference
$60,000$170,000+$110,000
$80,000$227,000+$147,000
$100,000$284,000+$184,000
$130,000$369,000+$239,000
$150,000$425,000+$275,000
$200,000$567,000+$367,000

Houston vs San Francisco: Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

When comparing the cost of living between Houston, TX and San Francisco, CA, Houston comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 91 versus 224 for San Francisco — a difference of approximately 146%.

State income tax impact

Texas has no state income tax, giving Houston workers an immediate 9.3% take-home pay advantage over San Francisco workers who pay California's 9.3% state income tax.

Housing costs

The median home price in Houston is $290,000, compared to $1,350,000 in San Francisco. Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,250/month in Houston versus $3,600/month in San Francisco.

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