Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Nashua?

Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $55,000 in Nashua.

Which has lower taxes, Houston or Nashua?

Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Houston vs Nashua Cost of Living 2026

Houston

Texas

$1,360/mo est.

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,360 in Houston, TX versus $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 32% higher in Nashua, NH. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Houston, TX

Nashua, NH

Rent

Studio

$1,142

$1,127

+1% in Houston, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,156

$1,383

+20% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,375

$1,699

+24% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,664

$1,951

+17% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$253,400

$373,100

+47% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$62,894

$92,457

+47% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,410

$56,530

+14% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

39.7 yr

+5.4 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

42.0%

56.4%

+14.4 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.0%

40.5%

+4.5 pp in Nashua, NH

Avg Commute

27.3 min

25.3 min

+2.0 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,153.8

164.9

+86% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

4,324.9

1,269

+71% in Houston, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

70.3°F

49.2°F

+21.1°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

54.6 in

44.6 in

+10.1 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.52/gal

$3.94/gal

+12% in Nashua, NH

Area: Houston vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

27.0

+69% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$21.67

+32% in Houston, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Nashua, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Nashua, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Houston, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Nashua, NH

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Nashua, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Nashua, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / NH)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Houston vs Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Nashua?: Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Nashua?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Nashua?: Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).