CostIndexUSA

Aurora, CO vs Houston, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Aurora
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent

Houston is moderately cheaper than Aurora — 6.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Aurora, you would need $74,600 in Houston. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing28.9%
Aurora
146.9
Houston
104.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Aurora
101
Houston
100.6
🚗 Transportation3.8%
Aurora
104.4
Houston
100.4
🏥 Healthcare3.9%
Aurora
94.5
Houston
90.8
Utilities+8.4%
Aurora
87.9
Houston
95.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Aurora to see what you'd need to earn in Houston to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Houston, TX
$74,600
$5,400 less needed in Houston

Formula: salary × (98.6 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.9319. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Aurora, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Houston, TX

Median Home Price
$302,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
104.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.7×

Aurora has 28.9% lower housing costs compared to Houston.

Income & Job Market

Aurora, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
366,623
Top Industries
HealthcareAerospaceTechnologyGovernmentRetail

Houston, TX

Median Household Income
$79,500
Per Capita Income
$45,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
2,304,580
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareAerospaceManufacturingLogistics

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Aurora, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Houston, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.