CostIndexUSA

Houston, TX vs Yakima, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent
More AffordableWA
Yakima
95.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Yakima is slightly cheaper than Houston — 3.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Houston, you would need $77,500 in Yakima. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing30.5%
Houston
104.5
Yakima
72.6
🛒 Groceries+4.4%
Houston
100.6
Yakima
105
🚗 Transportation+4.0%
Houston
100.4
Yakima
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.1%
Houston
90.8
Yakima
94.5
Utilities3.6%
Houston
95.3
Yakima
91.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Yakima, WA
$77,500
$2,500 less needed in Yakima

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 98.6) = salary × 0.9686. 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×

Yakima, WA

Median Home Price
$342,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
72.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.9×

Houston has 30.5% lower housing costs compared to Yakima.

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

Yakima, WA

Median Household Income
$69,500
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
92,685
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Yakima, WA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.