Quick answer
Houston is 44% cheaper than Raleigh overall. A $100K salary in Raleigh is equivalent to $56,000 in Houston.
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Raleigh vs Houston Cost of Living (2026)
Side-by-side cost comparison plus a salary calculator to find your equivalent pay in either city.
Overall COL difference
Houston is 44% cheaper
1BR rent difference
-14% (B vs A)
$100K in A = in B
$56,000
Raleigh vs Houston: Side-by-Side
1BR median rent
$1,480/mo
$1,280/mo
-14%
2BR median rent
$1,860/mo
$1,620/mo
-13%
Median home price
$420K
$305K
-27%
Avg monthly groceries
$350
$350
+0%
Avg monthly utilities
$145
$190
+31%
State income tax
4.5%
None
Houston saves
Walk score
34/100
48/100
Houston better
Transit score
25/100
36/100
Houston better
Salary Equivalency Calculator
How much you need to earn in Houston to maintain the same standard of living as your current Raleigh salary — and vice versa.
$60,000
$34,000
$107,000
$80,000
$45,000
$143,000
$100,000
$56,000
$179,000
$120,000
$67,000
$215,000
$150,000
$84,000
$269,000
Calculated using a weighted index: rent (40%), home prices (20%), groceries (20%), utilities (10%), state income tax (10%). Individual lifestyles vary.
Monthly Budget: Raleigh vs Houston
Who Each City Is Best For
Raleigh is best for
- ✓tech workers
- ✓biotech / pharma professionals
- ✓researchers
- ✓young families
Houston is best for
- ✓energy sector workers
- ✓healthcare professionals
- ✓remote workers
- ✓families on a budget
FAQs
Is Raleigh or Houston cheaper to live in?
Houston is 44% cheaper than Raleigh overall. Houston 1BR rent ($1,280/mo) vs Raleigh ($1,480/mo). Median home price: Houston $305K vs Raleigh $420K.
How much salary do I need in Houston to match $100K in Raleigh?
$56,000 in Houston is equivalent to $100,000 in Raleigh based on cost of living differences. The biggest factors are rent (-14% difference) and state taxes (Raleigh: 4.5% vs Houston: None).
What is the rent difference between Raleigh and Houston?
1BR: Raleigh $1,480/mo vs Houston $1,280/mo (-14%). 2BR: Raleigh $1,860/mo vs Houston $1,620/mo (-13%).
Does Raleigh or Houston have lower taxes?
Raleigh (NC) has 4.5% state income tax. Houston (TX) has None state income tax. On a $100K salary, the annual tax difference is ~$4,500.