Houston is about 5% less expensive than Chicago overall — $100,000 in Chicago is worth about $95,206 in Houston.
Chicago vs Houston: the numbers
| Metric | Chicago | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 104 | 99 | -5% |
| Median rent | $1,380 | $1,313 | -5% |
| Median home value | $315,200 | $253,400 | -20% |
| Median household income | $75,134 | $62,894 | -16% |
Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.
What your salary is worth
A $100,000 salary in Chicago has the same buying power as about $95,206 in Houston. Going the other way, $100,000 in Houston is like $105,035 in Chicago.
Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Chicago and Houston.