Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Rochester?

Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $34,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Houston or Rochester?

Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Houston vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Houston

Texas

$1,360/mo est.

Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 26% higher in Houston, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Houston, TX

Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio

$1,142

$750

+34% in Houston, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,156

$857

+26% in Houston, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,375

$1,114

+19% in Houston, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,664

$1,240

+25% in Houston, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$253,400

$120,600

+52% in Houston, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$62,894

$46,628

+26% in Houston, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,410

$51,210

+4% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

33.5 yr

+0.8 yr in Houston, TX

Homeownership

42.0%

37.2%

+4.8 pp in Houston, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.0%

29.9%

+6.1 pp in Houston, TX

Avg Commute

27.3 min

18.9 min

+8.4 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,153.8

690

+40% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

4,324.9

3,533.4

+18% 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

48.2°F

+22.1°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

54.6 in

34.3 in

+20.4 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.52/gal

$4.04/gal

+15% in Rochester, NY

Area: Houston vs New York.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

29.9

+82% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$22.74

+25% in Houston, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rochester, NY

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Rochester, NY

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Houston, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Rochester, NY

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Rochester, NY

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rochester, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / NY)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

10.90%

+10.9 pp in NY

Houston vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Rochester?: Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Rochester?: Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).