Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Seattle?

Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, Houston or Seattle?

Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Houston vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

Houston

Texas

$1,360/mo est.

Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 48% higher in Seattle, WA. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Houston, TX

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,142

$1,638

+43% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$1,156

$1,858

+61% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,375

$2,359

+72% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,664

$2,918

+75% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$253,400

$912,100

+260% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$62,894

$121,984

+94% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,410

$72,610

+47% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

35.5 yr

+1.2 yr in Seattle, WA

Homeownership

42.0%

44.2%

+2.2 pp in Seattle, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.0%

67.5%

+31.5 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

27.3 min

26.6 min

+0.7 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,153.8

788.6

+32% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

4,324.9

5,108.8

+18% in Seattle, WA

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

53.5°F

+16.8°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

54.6 in

37.7 in

+16.9 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.52/gal

$5.31/gal

+51% in Seattle, WA

Area: Houston vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

$2.75

+120% in Seattle, WA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

14.9

+9% in Houston, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$20.41

+33% in Houston, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Seattle, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Seattle, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Houston, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Seattle, WA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Seattle, WA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Seattle, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / WA)

6.25%

6.5%

+0.3 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Houston vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Seattle?: Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Seattle?: Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).