Houston, TX vs. San Diego, CA: Cost of Living
Side-by-side comparison of Houston and San Diego, built from Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 estimates.
The numbers
| Measure | Houston, TX | San Diego, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,328,253 | 1,389,526 | -40.3% |
| Median household income | $64,813 | $108,077 | +66.8% |
| Median gross rent (monthly) | $1,361 | $2,313 | +69.9% |
| Median home value | $277,800 | $906,700 | +226.4% |
Difference is San Diego, CA relative to Houston, TX.
Purchasing power
Using state-level price parities (BEA RPP 2024: Texas 97.1, California 110.7, U.S. = 100), a $100,000 salary in Houston, TX buys about as much as $114,077 in San Diego, CA.
State-level price index; city prices within a state vary. See methodology.
Housing affordability
| Measure | Houston, TX | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Salary needed for median rent (30% rule) | $54,440 | $92,520 |
| Rent burden at local median income | 25.2% | 25.7% |
| Est. affordable home price at median income | $236,434 | $394,258 |
Home price assumes 6.67% 30-yr rate (FRED, 2026-08), 20% down, 28% front-end DTI, 1.5%/yr taxes+insurance. Not financial advice.
Full city profiles
About this data
- American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates — data period 2020-2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Regional Price Parities — data period 2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Federal Reserve Economic Data — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 13, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.