Cost of Living Comparison Between Houston, TX and Eugene, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Houston, TX and Eugene, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,640 in Houston, TX versus $2,425 in Eugene, OR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,013 in Houston, TX versus $3,693 in Eugene, OR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,386 in Houston, TX versus $4,961 in Eugene, OR.

Living in Houston, TX is roughly 9% more expensive than Eugene, OR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Houston, TX 97% above, Eugene, OR 81% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Houston, TX
Eugene, OR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.24 $20.24
$18.64 $18.64
8.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7 $80.7
$75.1 $75.1
7.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.97 $9.97
$10.15 $10.15
-1.77%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$5.52 $5.52
1.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.55 $2.55
10.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.07 $2.07
4.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.82 $5.82
$6.14 $6.14
-5.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15 $7.15
$8.06 $8.06
-11.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Houston, TX
Eugene, OR
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.00 $1.00
-12.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.00 $3.00
$3.88 $3.88
-22.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.58 $3.58
$7.42 $7.42
-51.75%
Eggs
$4.22 $4.22
$3.96 $3.96
6.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.62 $12.62
$14.07 $14.07
-10.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.09 $12.09
$14.64 $14.64
-17.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.32 $17.32
$19.21 $19.21
-9.84%
Apples (1kg)
$4.27 $4.27
$4.42 $4.42
-3.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.51 $1.51
-9.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.82 $3.82
$3.83 $3.83
-0.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.62 $2.62
$3.68 $3.68
-28.80%
Potato (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.04 $2.04
36.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 $2.30
$2.05 $2.05
12.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.98 $1.98
-6.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.65 $1.65
30.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.82 $9.82
$12.20 $12.20
-19.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.53 $13.53
$13.30 $13.30
1.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.71 $1.71
15.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 $3.81
$3.42 $3.42
11.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Houston, TX
Eugene, OR
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.93 $1.93
-34.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.1 $76.1
$44.95 $44.95
69.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.93 $3.93
$4.05 $4.05
-2.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.26 $1.26
46.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.40 $30.40
$30.49 $30.49
-0.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.03 $1.03
-24.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K $32.6K
$33.6K $33.6K
-2.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$26.6K $26.6K
-5.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Houston, TX
Eugene, OR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$193 $193
$127 $127
52.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.3 $63.3
$51.1 $51.1
23.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.5 $66.5
$58.1 $58.1
14.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Houston, TX
Eugene, OR
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.61 $38.61
$53.6 $53.6
-27.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 $10.73
$17.25 $17.25
-37.80%
Cinema Ticket
$15.23 $15.23
$14.39 $14.39
5.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Houston, TX
Eugene, OR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,236 $1,236
$1,489 $1,489
-16.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.9K $18.9K
$12.3K $12.3K
53.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Houston, TX
Eugene, OR
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 $47.10
$56.3 $56.3
-16.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 $43.41
$41.92 $41.92
3.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 $99.7
$104 $104
-4.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$109 $109
11.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Houston, TX
Eugene, OR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,663 $1,663
$1,276 $1,276
30.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,250 $1,250
$1,165 $1,165
7.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,066 $3,066
$2,198 $2,198
39.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,412 $2,412
$2,154 $2,154
11.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,489 $2,489
$3,237 $3,237
-23.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,868 $1,868
$3,318 $3,318
-43.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Houston, TX
Eugene, OR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,549 $4,549
$3,848 $3,848
18.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.53
-1.38%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Houston, TX: May 30, 2026

Last update for Eugene, OR: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,663 in Houston, TX and $1,276 in Eugene, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Houston, TX pays 18% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $81.0 in Houston, TX vs $75.0 in Eugene, OR. Groceries flip the comparison at $369 vs $412, with Houston, TX cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Houston, TX vs Eugene, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Houston, TX and Eugene, OR?
Houston, TX and Eugene, OR differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($2,640 vs $2,425 including rent). Eugene, OR is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Houston, TX or Eugene, OR?
Houston, TX pays 18% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Houston, TX and Eugene, OR?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,663 in Houston, TX versus $1,276 in Eugene, OR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Houston, TX or Eugene, OR?
All in, you'll spend $2,640 per month in Houston, TX versus $2,425 in Eugene, OR – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Houston, TX and Eugene, OR?
A monthly transit pass in Eugene, OR runs roughly 69% less than in Houston, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,425 in Eugene, OR versus $2,640 in Houston, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Eugene, OR but tight or insufficient in Houston, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Eugene, OR the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Houston, TX and Eugene, OR?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Houston, TX or Eugene, OR?
Expats usually find Eugene, OR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Houston, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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