Living Cost Compare
Houston

Texas

$1,350/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,130/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 $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 41% higher in Washington, DC. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Houston, TX
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,142
$1,763
+54% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,156
$1,885
+63% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,375
$1,949
+42% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,664
$2,249
+35% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$253,400
$724,600
+186% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$62,894
$106,287
+69% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,410
$71,060
+44% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
34.9 yr
+0.6 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
42.0%
41.1%
+0.9 pp in Houston, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.0%
63.6%
+27.6 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
27.3 min
30.3 min
+3.0 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,155.2
936
+19% in Houston, TX
Property Crime
4,325.3
3,627.1
+16% 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
58.2°F
+12.1°F in Houston, TX
Annual Precipitation
54.6 in
39.7 in
+14.9 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.30/gal
+12% in Washington, DC

Area: Houston vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.00
+60% in Washington, DC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
25.0
+53% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$18.01
+27% in Houston, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / DC)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
10.75%
+10.8 pp in DC

Houston vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Washington?
Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Washington?
Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).