Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Houston?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Houston?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $46,000 in Houston.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Houston?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Houston Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

Houston

Texas

$1,360/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,360 in Houston, TX. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $62,894 in Houston, TX — about 38% higher in Houston, TX. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Houston, TX

Rent

Studio

$678

$1,142

+68% in Houston, TX

1 Bedroom

$732

$1,156

+58% in Houston, TX

2 Bedroom

$903

$1,375

+52% in Houston, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,664

+54% in Houston, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$253,400

+169% in Houston, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$62,894

+60% in Houston, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$49,410

+1% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

34.3 yr

+2.0 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

41.2%

42.0%

+0.8 pp in Houston, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

36.0%

+14.7 pp in Houston, TX

Avg Commute

22.9 min

27.3 min

+4.4 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

1,153.8

+27% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

4,324.9

+5% in Cleveland, OH

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

70.3°F

+17.6°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

54.6 in

+18.3 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$3.52/gal

+16% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Ohio vs Houston.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Houston METRO (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

16.4

+16% in Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$30.48

+34% in Houston, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Cleveland, OH

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Houston, TX

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Cleveland, OH

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Cleveland, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

Average prices — Midwest vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / TX)

5.75%

6.25%

+0.5 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

None

+2.8 pp in OH

Cleveland vs Houston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Houston?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Houston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $46,000 in Houston.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Houston?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).