Houston Cost of Living

The cost of living index is based on the composite price of groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, health care, clothing and entertainment.
Cost of living indexes will generally be higher in areas that offer access to beaches, culture, arts and recreation. In addition areas, that offer a wider variety of services such as health and education will run higher due to higher wages, and increased quality of living.

Cost of living indexing explanation
A figure of 100 points is used as an average both for the USA and Florida. For example:
NewYork City is ranked at a 154.0
Boston Mass is rated at 132.4

For example-If you were relocating from Denver (whose rate is 103.9) to Houston, and you currently make $50,000 per year, the formula is as follows:
• Take the destination index, in this case Houston at-91.0 and divide by Denvers ’s index-103.9, then multiply by a salary of $50,000. This will give you a figure of $43,792, which you would be required to make in Houston and have the same quality of life.

Houston provides the opportunities and conveniences found in large cities, but is more affordable than many small cities. Bargain housing prices and a low tax burden keep living expenses in Houston below those in most other major metropolitan areas.

The ACCRA 10-Cost of Living Index shows that Houston’s overall after-taxes living costs are 9 percent below the nationwide average, largely due to housing costs that are 21 percent below the average. These figures will somehat fiffer now but Houston is still

In the context of the 27 metropolitan areas with more than 2 million residents, Houston’s cost-of-living advantage is even more pronounced. Houston’s housing costs are 39 percent below the average for the large metro areas, and its overall costs are 18 percent below the average for this group.

New York - 55.6 percent above average
Los Angeles - 41.4 percent above average
Washington, D.C. - 34.8 percent above average
Boston - 31.1 percent above average
Chicago - 10.5 percent above average
Miami - 9.8 percent above average
Denver - 4.3 percent above average
Atlanta - 5.1 percent below average
Dallas - 7.5 percent below average
Houston - 9 percent below average
Houston’s grocery prices are 18 percent below the major metro average, the lowest within this group.

Utility costs in Houston are 3.8 percent below the major metro average.

Transportation costs are 4.8 percent below the average.

Healthcare costs are 2.8 percent below the average.

Costs for miscellaneous goods and services in Houston are .07% percent below the average.