- Last updated on: December 12, 2022
What is the average cost of living in Houston?
The average cost of living in Houston is $3,425.72 per month.
Houston is the fourth most famous city in the United States, with a population of 2.3 million people. Houston is Texas’ capital and trading center, and home of the largest medical city in the world. It has a large international community filled with friendly neighborhoods and has become the most diverse metropolitan city in the U.S. Since Houston has a low cost of living, thousands of new residents come to live here for a better lifestyle.
Living a luxurious life in Houston is easy as it has a strong job market. You will find everything at a reasonable price tag than in the other areas of the United States. According to numbeo.com, the median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center is $1,555.88 per month.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about the cost of living in Houston!
(*Numbeo & Apartment List)
Cost of living in Houston - 2023
Housing cost in Houston
Houston has an affordable cost of living, but the housing market in Houston is 5% higher than the U.S. average. However, more and more renters are moving to Houston because the cost of living in Houston is 2% lower than the national average.
Below is the list of the housing costs rent in Houston:
AREA | STUDIO | 1 BEDROOM | 2 BEDROOM | 3 BEDROOM | 4 BEDROOM |
Downtown House | $ 1,535 | $ 1,996 | $ 2,595 | $ 1,704 | $ 1,650 |
Midtown | $ 1,400 | $ 1,652 | $ 2,217 | $ 2,410 | $ 5,255 |
Montrose | $ 1,358 | $ 1,449 | $ 2,110 | $ 2,450 | $ 3,600 |
Kingwood | $ 1,278 | $ 1,295 | $ 1,612 | $1,755 | $ 1,889 |
Second Ward | $ 1,250 | $ 1,024 | $ 2,199 | $ 2,418 | $ 2,700 |
Below is the list of the housing costs to buy an apartment in Houston:
APARTMENT | PRICE PER SQUARE METER |
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Center | $ 306.10 |
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Center | $ 154.77 |
AREA | MEDIAN COST |
Downtown House | $ 478,000 |
Midtown | $ 420,000 |
Montrose | $ 660,000 |
Kingwood | $ 260,000 |
Second Ward | $ 315,000 |
*The home prices may vary depending on the location you choose to live in.
(*Numbeo, Zumper, Redfin, Houstonia & Apartment List)
What is the average rent cost for a 1-bedroom apartment in Houston?
The median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city is $1,555.88 per month.
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Utility cost in Houston: Internet, electricity & water
Whether you own a house or pay rent, you must cover the utility cost. However, Houston’s utility cost is higher than in the rest of the United States due to the hot summer and humidity.
According to Numbeo.com data, the average basic utility package that includes heating, electricity, water, and garbage in Houston is as follows:
UTILITIES | COST PER MONTH |
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment | $ 148.15 |
Internet (60 M.P.s or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $ 63.45 |
What is the average cost of utilities in Houston?
The average cost of utilities ( internet, electricity & water) in Houston is $211.55 per month.
Grocery cost in Houston
The grocery cost in Houston is affordable, and the grocery is generally not taxed. The prices of everyday food products such as eggs, milk, and bread are similar to what you find in the rest of the United States.
According to Numbeo.com data, the average grocery cost in Houston is as follows:
GROCERY | COST |
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) | $ 3.24 |
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) | $ 2.62 |
Rice (white), (1 lb) | $ 1.46 |
Eggs (regular) (12) | $ 2.99 |
Local Cheese (1 lb) | $ 5.22 |
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | $ 3.55 |
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | $ 6.17 |
Apples (1 lb) | $ 2.01 |
Banana (1 lb) | $ 0.55 |
Oranges (1 lb) | $ 1.56 |
Tomato (1 lb) | $ 1.52 |
Potato (1 lb) | $ 0.92 |
Onion (1 lb) | $ 0.99 |
Lettuce (1 head) | $ 1.64 |
Water (1.5-liter bottle) | $ 1.84 |
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $ 12.00 |
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | $ 2.98 |
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) | $ 3.16 |
Average Grocery Cost Per Person Per Month | $ 450.00 |
*However, the food costs may vary depending on your area.
(*Numbeo & Realfx)
What is the average cost of groceries for 1 person in Houston?
The average cost of utilities ( internet, electricity & water) in Houston is $450.00 per month.
Public transport in Houston
The public transportation system of Houston is poorly developed. Public transport in Houston is safe, but it is not efficient. According to a survey, Houston had the 2nd lowest public transit rate in 2019. Most of the residents, for their commute to work, drive.
According to Numbeo.com data, public transportation costs in Houston are as follows:
TRANSPORTATION | COSTS |
MetroCards costs (single ride) | 1.25 $ |
MetroCards Cost (Per Month) | 40.00 $ |
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | 2.95 $ |
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) | 4.50 $ |
Gasoline (1 Gallon) | 4.17 $ |
(*Numbeo & Houston Chronicle)
What is the Houston Metro monthly pass price?
The MetroCard monthly pass price is $40.00 in 2022.
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Entertainment costs in Houston
Houston entertains everyone with food, beautiful parks, and shopping. The city has 19 museums that are within walking distance of one another. For sports lovers, the town offers green space and biking. It is also famous as an international food city and provides various food options, including Tex Mex, BBQ, crawfish, tamales, and tacos. According to Numbeo.com data, the entertainment costs in Houston are as follows:
ENTERTAINMENT | COSTS |
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | 15.40 $ |
Taxi 1-hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | 30.00 $ |
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | 12.00 $ |
(*Numbeo & Apartment List)
What is the average cost of entertainment in Houston?
The average cost of entertainment in Houston is $58 per month.
Healthcare costs in Houston
Healthcare is an essential expense. We always include healthcare costs in our budget when moving to any place. The healthcare cost in Houston is affordable; however, the prices vary among the wide selection of health plans.
The healthcare costs in Houston are as follows:
HEALTHCARE | COST |
Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for one person per month | $ 575 |
Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for a family per month (two adults and two children) | $ 1,839 |
Non-Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for one person | $ 520 |
Non-Employer-Sponsored Healthcare Couple with at least one child | $ 1,352 |
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $ 41.30 |
(*Numbeo, ValuePenguin & Health Markets)
What is the average cost of a gym membership in Houston?
The average cost of a gym membership in Houston is $41.30 per month.
Sales tax in Houston
Houston’s minimum combined sales tax rate in 2022 is 8.25%, representing the entire state, county, and city sales tax rates. However, you don’t pay any income taxes when you live in Texas and can use your spending power for a more excellent apartment or savor the city’s food scene.
Conclusion
The cost of living in Houston is low. The city offers a robust job market, a great food scene, and top-notch universities. If you plan on moving to Houston, bear in mind that many neighborhoods are safe and quiet. If rightly budgeted, you can live in Houston in no time. The average cost of living in Houston is mentioned in the table below:
Average monthly cost of living in Houston
Category
Description
Cost
Housing
Average rent price for a 1 bedroom apartment (Manhattan) + Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for one person + Average utilities cost
$ 1996 + $ 575 + $ 148.15
Transportation
Metro Pass (1 month)
$ 40.00
Food
Daily recommended minimum amount of money for food per person/ Regular grocery basket for one person
$ 54.42
Internet
Internet (60 MPs or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)
$ 63.45
Entertainment (for 1 time only)
Meal Inexpensive restaurant + Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat + Taxi 1-hour Waiting
$15.40 + $30.00 + $ 12.00
Health and Fitness
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult
$ 41.30
Average Grocery Cost
Per Month, Per Person
$450.00
Total
Sum
$ 3,425.72
Note: The cost mentioned above may vary; for instance, if you live with someone, your cost will be considerably low. Also, if you have a family, you will need to add the cost of each family member. The price may also vary depending upon the area you select to live in.
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