CostIndexUSA

Erie, PA vs Houston, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordablePA
Erie
91
overall index
$1,075/mo rent
TX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent

Erie is moderately cheaper than Houston — 8.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Erie, you would need $86,700 in Houston. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+84.0%
Erie
56.8
Houston
104.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Erie
100.7
Houston
100.6
🚗 Transportation2.1%
Erie
102.6
Houston
100.4
🏥 Healthcare2.2%
Erie
92.8
Houston
90.8
Utilities10.8%
Erie
106.8
Houston
95.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Houston, TX
$86,700
$6,700 more needed in Houston

Formula: salary × (98.6 ÷ 91) = salary × 1.0835. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Erie, PA

Median Home Price
$209,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
56.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Houston, TX

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

Houston has 84.0% higher housing costs compared to Erie.

Income & Job Market

Erie, PA

Median Household Income
$60,700
Per Capita Income
$34,600
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
94,831
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareEducationTechnologyRetail

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).

Erie, PA
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.