Living Cost Compare
Houston

Texas

$1,360/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 12% higher in Newark, DE. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Houston, TX
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,142
$1,649
+44% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,156
$1,391
+20% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,375
$1,513
+10% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,664
$1,916
+15% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$253,400
$357,600
+41% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$62,894
$71,373
+13% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,410
$54,310
+10% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
22.0 yr
+12.3 yr in Houston, TX
Homeownership
42.0%
50.3%
+8.3 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.0%
57.5%
+21.5 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
27.3 min
19.6 min
+7.7 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,153.8
326.3
+72% in Houston, TX
Property Crime
4,324.9
2,024.6
+53% 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
54.9°F
+15.4°F in Houston, TX
Annual Precipitation
54.6 in
43.1 in
+11.6 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.52/gal
$3.94/gal
+12% in Newark, DE

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
19.3
+21% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$29.73
+7% in Houston, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / DE)
6.25%
None
+6.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
6.60%
+6.6 pp in DE

Houston vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Newark?
Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Newark?
Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).