CostIndexUSA

Houston, TX vs Pocatello, ID Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent
More AffordableID
Pocatello
88.9
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Pocatello is moderately cheaper than Houston — 9.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Houston, you would need $72,100 in Pocatello. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing36.5%
Houston
104.5
Pocatello
66.4
🛒 Groceries4.4%
Houston
100.6
Pocatello
96.2
🚗 Transportation+3.5%
Houston
100.4
Pocatello
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+3.5%
Houston
90.8
Pocatello
94
Utilities26.8%
Houston
95.3
Pocatello
69.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Pocatello, ID
$72,100
$7,900 less needed in Pocatello

Formula: salary × (88.9 ÷ 98.6) = salary × 0.9016. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Houston, TX

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

Pocatello, ID

Median Home Price
$339,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
66.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.3×

Houston has 36.5% lower housing costs compared to Pocatello.

Income & Job Market

Houston, TX

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

Pocatello, ID

Median Household Income
$68,500
Per Capita Income
$39,000
Unemployment Rate
2.4%
Population
56,606
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Houston, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Pocatello, ID
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% 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.