Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Portland?

Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Houston or Portland?

Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Houston vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Houston

Texas

$1,350/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,600/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,350 in Houston, TX versus $1,600 in Portland, OR. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 29% higher in Portland, OR. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Houston, TX

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,142

$1,294

+13% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,156

$1,440

+25% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,375

$1,741

+27% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,664

$2,053

+23% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$253,400

$557,600

+120% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$62,894

$88,792

+41% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,410

$60,690

+23% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

38.6 yr

+4.3 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

42.0%

52.8%

+10.8 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.0%

53.5%

+17.5 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

27.3 min

24.6 min

+2.7 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,155.2

731.7

+37% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

4,325.3

5,605.5

+30% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+15.8°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

54.6 in

42.9 in

+11.8 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.57/gal

+45% in Portland, OR

Area: Houston vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

$2.80

+124% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

14.9

+9% in Houston, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$17.98

+27% in Houston, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Portland, OR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Portland, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / OR)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.90%

+9.9 pp in OR

Houston vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Portland?: Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Portland?: Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).