Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Richmond?

Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $48,000 in Richmond.

Which has lower taxes, Houston or Richmond?

Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Houston vs Richmond Cost of Living 2026

Houston

Texas

$1,360/mo est.

Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $62,671 in Richmond, VA. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Houston, TX

Richmond, VA

Rent

Studio

$1,142

$1,183

+4% in Richmond, VA

1 Bedroom

$1,156

$1,195

+3% in Richmond, VA

2 Bedroom

$1,375

$1,374

+0% in Houston, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,664

$1,447

+13% in Houston, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$253,400

$328,100

+29% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income

$62,894

$62,671

+0% in Houston, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,410

$51,460

+4% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

34.5 yr

+0.2 yr in Richmond, VA

Homeownership

42.0%

43.5%

+1.5 pp in Richmond, VA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.0%

44.1%

+8.1 pp in Richmond, VA

Avg Commute

27.3 min

22.1 min

+5.2 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,153.8

349

+70% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

4,324.9

3,240.2

+25% 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

58.9°F

+11.4°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

54.6 in

43.6 in

+11.0 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.52/gal

$3.86/gal

+10% in Richmond, VA

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)

16.4

17.6

+7% in Richmond, VA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$23.66

+22% in Houston, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / VA)

6.25%

5.3%

+1.0 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.75%

+5.8 pp in VA

Houston vs Richmond — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Richmond?: Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Richmond?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $48,000 in Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Richmond?: Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).