Paycheck & COL Hub

Cost of Living: Chicago vs Houston

Compare cost of living between Chicago and Houston. See how much you’d need to earn in one city to match the other.

Relative cost

Houston is about 8% less expensive than Chicago.

Based on our cost-of-living indices (housing, groceries, transport, and general expenses).

Equivalent salary

To have a similar standard of living in Houston as someone earning $60,000 in Chicago, you’d need approximately 55,385 USD/year in Houston.

Use our Cost of Living Calculator →

How we compare Chicago and Houston

We use relative cost-of-living indices for housing, groceries, transport, and general expenses. The equivalent salary is an estimate; your own spending and lifestyle will affect the real number.