Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Houston, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Houston, TX

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: New York, NY is 50% more expensive than Houston, TX without rent, and 72.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: New York, NY is 51.6% more expensive than Houston, TX without rent, and 80.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
New York, NY
Houston, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$20.39 $20.39
45.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$79.3 $79.3
81.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$10.16 $10.16
22.34%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.34 $5.34
9.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.86 $2.86
13.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.21 $2.21
16.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$6.12 $6.12
34.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$6.85 $6.85
73.14%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Houston, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$0.88 $0.88
77.27%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$3.11 $3.11
68.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$3.41 $3.41
137.83%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$4.05 $4.05
79.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$12.94 $12.94
31.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$12.07 $12.07
34.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$17.05 $17.05
17.42%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$4.25 $4.25
76.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.4 $1.4
82.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$4.03 $4.03
44.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$2.49 $2.49
161.85%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.88 $2.88
29.17%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$2.29 $2.29
70.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.81 $1.81
69.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.23 $2.23
15.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$9.83 $9.83
95.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$12.24 $12.24
45.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.96 $1.96
53.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.83 $3.83
-2.87%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
New York, NY
Houston, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.29 $1.29
126.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$74.4 $74.4
80.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$3.99 $3.99
28.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.89 $1.89
13.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$29.44 $29.44
41.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.79 $0.79
20.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$32.6K $32.6K
7.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$25.5K $25.5K
8.46%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Houston, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$198 $198
-10.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$63 $63
-4.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$66.4 $66.4
-3.93%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Houston, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$39.34 $39.34
257.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
$10.85 $10.85
488.94%
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$14.88 $14.88
33.74%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Houston, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$1,272 $1,272
152.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$19.1K $19.1K
195.60%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Houston, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$46.43 $46.43
41.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$43.46 $43.46
12.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$99.1 $99.1
12.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$125 $125
36.74%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Houston, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$1,661 $1,661
150.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$1,276 $1,276
107.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$3,167 $3,167
165.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$2,450 $2,450
115.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$2,534 $2,534
516.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$1,912 $1,912
483.49%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Houston, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$4,591 $4,591
22.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.44
-

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Houston, TX: October 28, 2025

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