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: $2,730 in Houston, TX versus $2,625 in Eugene, OR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,890 in Houston, TX versus $3,854 in Eugene, OR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,049 in Houston, TX versus $5,083 in Eugene, OR.

Living in Houston, TX is roughly 4% more expensive than in Eugene, OR, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Houston, TX 99% above, Eugene, OR 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$17.95 $17.95

12.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 $76.1

$74.3 $74.3

2.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.98 $9.98

$10.85 $10.85

-8.02%

Cappuccino

$5.64 $5.64

$4.89 $4.89

15.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.90 $2.90

-4.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.05 $2.05

1.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.08 $6.08

$5.88 $5.88

3.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$5.92 $5.92

35.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.08 $1.08

-25.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$4.03 $4.03

-14.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$5.26 $5.26

-20.53%

Eggs

$3.31 $3.31

$3.78 $3.78

-12.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.30 $12.30

$10.00 $10.00

23.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.98 $12.98

$13.92 $13.92

-6.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.01 $16.01

$19.81 $19.81

-19.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$3.86 $3.86

12.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.69 $1.69

-17.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.75 $3.75

-18.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.36 $3.36

2.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.18 $2.18

11.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.18 $2.18

27.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.00 $2.00

-6.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.92 $1.92

32.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.58 $9.58

$11.36 $11.36

-15.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.47 $14.47

$13.75 $13.75

5.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.70 $1.70

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.50 $3.50

-16.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.90 $1.90

-32.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.4 $74.4

$45.08 $45.08

65.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$4.91 $4.91

-40.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.34 $1.34

10.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.40 $24.40

$30.06 $30.06

-18.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.28 $1.28

-31.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.0K $36.0K

$34.6K $34.6K

4.04%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K $27.3K

$24.0K $24.0K

13.70%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$197 $197

$151 $151

30.46%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.6 $60.6

$45.44 $45.44

33.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.8 $74.8

$65.0 $65.0

15.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.53 $39.53

$47.20 $47.20

-16.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.63 $20.63

$17.64 $17.64

16.95%

Cinema Ticket

$14.78 $14.78

$14.14 $14.14

4.53%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,173 $2,173

$1,207 $1,207

79.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$12.2K $12.2K

80.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.54 $49.54

$59.1 $59.1

-16.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.65 $47.65

$45.18 $45.18

5.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$99.7 $99.7

3.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.4 $88.4

$105 $105

-15.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,673 $1,673

$1,514 $1,514

10.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,418 $1,418

$1,407 $1,407

0.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,121 $3,121

$2,476 $2,476

26.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,243 $2,243

$2,261 $2,261

-0.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,369 $2,369

$3,299 $3,299

-28.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,854 $1,854

$3,269 $3,269

-43.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,296 $4,296

$3,869 $3,869

11.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.11

6.07

0.66%

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

Last update for Houston, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Eugene, OR: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,673 in Houston, TX and $1,514 in Eugene, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Houston, TX pays 11% 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: $76.0 in Houston, TX vs $74.0 in Eugene, OR. Groceries flip the comparison at $380 vs $392, 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

Houston, TX and Eugene, OR differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($2,730 vs $2,625 including rent). Eugene, OR is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 11% higher in Houston, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,673 in Houston, TX versus $1,514 in Eugene, OR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,730 per month in Houston, TX versus $2,625 in Eugene, OR – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Eugene, OR runs roughly 65% less than in Houston, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Eugene, OR is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Expats usually find Eugene, OR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Houston, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.