Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026
Yes, Houston is 18% cheaper than Chicago based on our cost of living index. Houston has a COLI of 60.2, while Chicago has a COLI of 73.2. 18% cheaper
Overall, Houston is approximately 18% cheaper than Chicago based on our cost of living index. Chicago has a COLI of 73.2 (ranked #20 of 182 cities), while Houston has a COLI of 60.2 (ranked #45).
When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Chicago averages $2,000/month compared to $1,600/month in Houston. That makes Houston approximately 20% cheaper for rent alone.
Houston has lower total deductions (19.1%) compared to Chicago (25.6%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Houston. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.
Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.
Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.
If you earn $75,000 in Chicago, you would need approximately $61,680 in Houston to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 18% less thanks to lower cost of living.
Estimated mid-level annual salaries in local currency, adjusted for each city's cost of living:
| Job Title | Chicago (USD) | Houston (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | $131,760 | $108,360 |
| Software Engineer | $62,220 | $51,170 |
| Product Manager | $73,200 | $60,200 |
| Lawyer | $73,200 | $60,200 |
| Data Scientist | $69,540 | $57,190 |
| Marketing Manager | $52,704 | $43,344 |
| Teacher | $35,136 | $28,896 |
| Nurse | $42,456 | $34,916 |
Salary estimates are adjusted by each city's COLI relative to the New York baseline. Actual salaries vary by company, experience, and industry.
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Gold Coast | 1.25x (+25%) |
| River North | 1.22x (+22%) |
| The Loop | 1.20x (+20%) |
| West Loop | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Lincoln Park | 1.15x (+15%) |
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| River Oaks | 1.35x (+35%) |
| Tanglewood | 1.25x (+25%) |
| West University Place | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Downtown | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Memorial | 1.18x (+18%) |
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Open Salary ConverterChicago is more expensive overall. Chicago has a COLI of 73.2 while Houston has a COLI of 60.2, making Houston approximately 18% cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living as $75,000 in Chicago, you would need approximately $61,680 in Houston.
Average one-bedroom rent in Chicago is $2,000/month compared to $1,600/month in Houston. Houston has lower rent by approximately 20%.
Houston has lower total deductions (19.1%) compared to Chicago (25.6%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Houston.
Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.
Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.
Last updated: 2026-02-28. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.