City-to-city comparison
San Francisco vs Houston Cost of Living
Compare equivalent salary, rent, housing, and regional price indexes before moving from San Francisco, California to Houston, Texas.
Quick answer
Houston is 47.8% cheaper than San Francisco. A $100,000 salary in San Francisco needs about $52,200 in Houston to keep similar buying power.
Moving to Houston
Houston's index is 96.0 versus 184.0 in San Francisco. Adjust salary for rent, transportation, state taxes, and health insurance before accepting an offer.
Next step
Use the full calculator to test your salary, household size, and target city in more detail.
Open calculatorFrequently asked questions
Is Houston more expensive than San Francisco?
Houston is 47.8% cheaper than San Francisco. The comparison uses regional price indexes where 100 equals the national average, plus local rent, housing, and income data.
What salary in Houston equals $100,000 in San Francisco?
Using these indexes, $100,000 in San Francisco is roughly equivalent to $52,200 in Houston.
What should I check before moving from San Francisco to Houston?
Compare real neighborhood rent, state taxes, commuting, childcare, health insurance, and job stability. The index is a baseline, not a precise household budget.
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How These Results Are Calculated
Each calculator uses standard financial formulas and explicit assumptions to generate educational estimates. Results are based on your inputs and may vary based on rates, taxes, fees, and local market conditions.
- Public data sources include the IRS, BLS, Census, Federal Reserve, and state agencies.
- Calculators are reviewed periodically to reflect market and tax-rule changes.
- These results do not replace personalized professional advice.
This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the founder of GetAffordably. Financial data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, Federal Reserve, IRS, and other public records, and is verified periodically.