CostIndexUSA

Houston, TX vs Reno, NV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent
NV
Reno
101
overall index
$1,900/mo rent

Houston is slightly cheaper than Reno — 2.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Houston, you would need $81,900 in Reno. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+18.2%
Houston
104.5
Reno
123.5
🛒 Groceries4.3%
Houston
100.6
Reno
96.3
🚗 Transportation+3.3%
Houston
100.4
Reno
103.7
🏥 Healthcare+3.3%
Houston
90.8
Reno
93.8
Utilities6.3%
Houston
95.3
Reno
89.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Reno, NV
$81,900
$1,900 more needed in Reno

Formula: salary × (101 ÷ 98.6) = salary × 1.0243. 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×

Reno, NV

Median Home Price
$551,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,900
Housing Index
123.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.2×

Reno has 18.2% higher housing costs compared to Houston.

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

Reno, NV

Median Household Income
$83,800
Per Capita Income
$47,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
264,165
Top Industries
GamingHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyLogistics

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)

Reno, NV
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.