Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Rutland?

Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Rutland.

Which has lower taxes, Houston or Rutland?

Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Houston vs Rutland Cost of Living 2026

Houston

Texas

$1,360/mo est.

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 13% higher in Houston, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Houston, TX

Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio

$1,142

$893

+22% in Houston, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,156

$856

+26% in Houston, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,375

$1,097

+20% in Houston, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,664

$1,207

+27% in Houston, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$253,400

$176,400

+30% in Houston, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$62,894

$55,000

+13% in Houston, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,410

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

48.5 yr

+14.2 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

42.0%

52.7%

+10.7 pp in Rutland, VT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.0%

32.2%

+3.8 pp in Houston, TX

Avg Commute

27.3 min

14.7 min

+12.6 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,153.8

487.8

+58% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

4,324.9

3,973.3

+8% 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

44.6°F

+25.7°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

54.6 in

40.5 in

+14.2 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.52/gal

$3.94/gal

+12% in Rutland, VT

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

24.4

+53% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$26.07

+18% in Houston, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rutland, VT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Rutland, VT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Houston, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Rutland, VT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rutland, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / VT)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

8.75%

+8.8 pp in VT

Houston vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Rutland?: Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Rutland?: 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 Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Rutland?: Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).