CostIndexUSA

Houston, TX vs Syracuse, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent
More AffordableNY
Syracuse
95.7
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Syracuse is slightly cheaper than Houston — 2.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Houston, you would need $77,600 in Syracuse. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing22.8%
Houston
104.5
Syracuse
80.7
🛒 Groceries0.9%
Houston
100.6
Syracuse
99.7
🚗 Transportation+2.2%
Houston
100.4
Syracuse
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+2.3%
Houston
90.8
Syracuse
92.9
Utilities+40.0%
Houston
95.3
Syracuse
133.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Syracuse, NY
$77,600
$2,400 less needed in Syracuse

Formula: salary × (95.7 ÷ 98.6) = salary × 0.9706. 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×

Syracuse, NY

Median Home Price
$245,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
80.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.0×

Houston has 22.8% lower housing costs compared to Syracuse.

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

Syracuse, NY

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
148,458
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingFinanceGovernment

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)

Syracuse, NY
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.