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What is the cost of living in common Houston neighborhoods? 

What is the cost of living in common Houston neighborhoods
| Last Updated: September 2022

Houston is not only one of the largest cities in the United States but a popular place for anyone hoping to live a life enriched with modern luxuries. Here, people have access to luxury spas, upscale shops, and famous restaurants.

Wondering if you can afford living here? Today, we’ll talk about the cost of living in Houston. 

What is the general cost of living in Houston neighborhoods? 

The general cost of living varies per neighborhood, but these are the overall average amounts to expect to spend in each neighborhood.  
Real EstateThe real estate market in Houston neighborhoods has recently averaged about $405,000 per home. Before the skyrocketing inflation, the price for homes was approximately $375,000.

Therefore for homeowners, the average monthly mortgage payment rounds out to $3,200 a month.

Of course, apartments are also available for those unsure if becoming a homeowner is right. The starting base price for a one-bedroom apartment is $1400.
UtilitiesOn average, the utilities in Houston neighborhoods cost $300 a month. Do note this is just the starting rate, as it varies per neighborhood.
Gas and TransportationThe gas prices are reaching an average of $4.75. Monthly gas rates pass the $150 mark, depending on how frequently you drive.

Unfortunately, people who live in Houston neighborhoods must have a car because it is not a walkable suburban city. The bright side of owning a car is that it is cheaper than taking an Uber or Lyft.

Car owners' car insurance starts at $250 per month, depending on your insurance company. We can't forget the cost for toll roads either—$4.00 per highway alone.
Food and GroceriesFor a family of five, groceries in Houston neighborhoods average around $800 a month. Still, this can be cheaper or more expensive, depending on where you buy your groceries.

The average fast food per person is $9. So the more you get street tacos or visit your local taco truck, the prices add up.

Dinner at an upscale steak house or a fancy Italian restaurant increases the average price to at least $20.
Miscellaneous CostsFor miscellaneous things, such as going to the barber shop or the transmission shop, the prices vary depending on the services offered in each neighborhood.

Those are just estimates of the average costs across Houston. 

To better help you get a picture of how the costs look by neighborhood, we’ve put together a list of the cost-of-living indexes in the top Houston neighborhoods for a comfortable life. 

Cost of Living in Houston by Neighborhood

When examining the following information, keep in mind that a score of 100 is the national average. Obviously, the neighborhoods with a lot of scores under 100 are generally cheaper to live in.

All of the data in the tables below is sourced from a cost of living calculator that calculates real time data from Houston neighborhoods. All of the information was retrieved in August 2022. 

Cypress
Overall Cost of Living Index:108.8
Median Home Value:$403,025
Median Household Income:$110,746
Median Rent:$1,726
Grocery:100.1
Health:92.4
Housing:109.6
Utilities:96.7
Transportation:134.6
Miscellaneous:100.4

Aldine 
Overall Cost of Living Index:85
Median Home Value:$128,000
Median Household Income:$51,801
Median Rent:$991
Grocery:94
Health:101
Housing:57
Utilities:110
Transportation:97
Miscellaneous:110

Alief
Median Home Value:$130, 260
Median Household Income:$48,046
Median Rent:$1,075

Alvin 
Overall Cost of Living Index:94.1
Median Home Value:$250,000
Median Household Income:$70,773
Median Rent:$1,062
Grocery:97.3
Health:84.8
Housing:77.3
Utilities:94
Transportation:$212,300
Miscellaneous:94.2

Atascocita 
Overall Cost of Living Index:102
Median Home Value:$245,100
Median Household Income:$103,676
Median Rent:$990
Grocery:98
Health:92.4
Housing:91.2
Utilities:97.3
Transportation:128.6
Miscellaneous:101.2

Bacliff
Overall Cost of Living Index:86.6
Median Home Value:$180,800
Median Household Income:$40,041
Median Rent:$875
Grocery:95.5
Health:101
Housing:59.6
Utilities:93.5
Transportation:96.1
Miscellaneous:103.1

Bayou Vista
Overall Cost of Living Index:106.4
Median Home Value:$345,900
Median Household Income:$77,841
Median Rent:$1,034
Grocery:95.9
Health:1
Housing:119.3
Utilities:91.9
Transportation:104.4
Miscellaneous:103

Baytown
Overall Cost of Living Index:84.2
Median Home Value:$181,900
Median Household Income:$46,776
Median Rent:$915
Grocery:95.6
Health:92.4
Housing:64.4
Utilities:94.4
Transportation:83.6
Miscellaneous:100.2

Bear Creek
Overall Cost of Living Index:130
Median Home Value:$834,000
Median Household Income:$105,000
Median Rent:$1,424
Grocery:99.2
Health:96.7
Housing:194.2
Utilities:98.6
Transportation:118.3
Miscellaneous:90.6

Bellaire
Overall Cost of Living Index:179.1
Median Home Value:$921,600
Median Household Income:$169,663
Median Rent:$1,942
Grocery:110.8
Health:92.4
Housing:349.7
Utilities:96.4
Transportation:113.4
Miscellaneous:99.6

Brookshire
Overall Cost of Living Index:88.9
Median Home Value:$157,900
Median Household Income:$28,308
Median Rent:$844
Grocery:98.5
Health:101
Housing:53.5
Utilities:94.4
Transportation:122.7
Miscellaneous:96.4

Clear Lake Shores 
Overall Cost of Living Index:120.1
Median Home Value:$384,900
Median Household Income:$99,402
Median Rent:$1,092
Grocery:101.3
Health:101
Housing:172.9
Utilities:91.9
Transportation:88.2
Miscellaneous:102.6

Cleveland
Overall Cost of Living Index:86.8
Median Home Value:$158,200
Median Household Income:$31,277
Median Rent:$981
Grocery:94.4
Health:100.7
Housing:44.8
Utilities:97.8
Transportation:128.2
Miscellaneous:94.6

Coldspring
Overall Cost of Living Index:90.4
Median Home Value:$182,500
Median Household Income:$33,224
Median Rent:$691
Grocery:96.1
Health:110.8
Housing:67.6
Utilities:99.5
Transportation:103.8
Miscellaneous:95

Conroe 
Overall Cost of Living Index:94.9
Median Home Value:$264,500
Median Household Income:$46,109
Median Rent:$943
Grocery:97.3
Health:95.6
Housing:91.4
Utilities:98.7
Transportation:92.3
Miscellaneous:99.6

Crosby 
Overall Cost of Living Index:98.5
Median Home Value:$220,200
Median Household Income:$54,286
Median Rent:$971
Grocery:97.2
Health:92.4
Housing:85.2
Utilities:96.7
Transportation:121.6
Miscellaneous:100.5

Dayton
Overall Cost of Living Index:91.3
Median Home Value:$216,400
Median Household Income:$51,477
Median Rent:$1,112
Grocery:95
Health:100.7
Housing:68.3
Utilities:92.9
Transportation:117.5
Miscellaneous:93.5

Deer Park
Overall Cost of Living Index:96.3
Median Home Value:$77,612
Median Household Income:$225,100
Median Rent:$970
Grocery:97.4
Health:92.4
Housing:83.6
Utilities:96.4
Transportation:112.4
Miscellaneous:101

Dickinson
Overall Cost of Living Index:91.5
Median Home Value:$225,600
Median Household Income:$67,083
Median Rent:$923
Grocery:97.6
Health:101
Housing:76.8
Utilities:93.5
Transportation:94.2
Miscellaneous:102.4

Richmond
Overall Cost of Living Index:108.2
Median Home Value:$315,900
Median Household Income:$47,110
Median Rent:$966
Grocery:99
Health:91.5
Housing:113.4
Utilities:100.4
Transportation:118.6
Miscellaneous:106.5

Friendswood
Overall Cost of Living Index:109
Median Home Value:$368,700
Median Household Income:$95,120
Median Rent:$1,075
Grocery:100.3
Health:101
Housing:129.6
Utilities:90.7
Transportation:98.3
Miscellaneous:104.3

Fulshear
Overall Cost of Living Index:134.2
Median Home Value:$505,700
Median Household Income:$165,208
Median Rent:$1,161
Grocery:103.7
Health:91.5
Housing:185.3
Utilities:101
Transportation:136.1
Miscellaneous:106.4

Galveston
Overall Cost of Living Index:91.7
Median Home Value:$281,100
Median Household Income:$38,008
Median Rent:$968
Grocery:98
Health:101
Housing:87.2
Utilities:91
Transportation:77.8
Miscellaneous:104.4

Hempstead
Overall Cost of Living Index:86.7
Median Home Value:$127,000
Median Household Income:$35,170
Median Rent:$821
Grocery:96
Health:101
Housing:50.3
Utilities:98
Transportation:116.1
Miscellaneous:96.3

Highland Village
Overall Cost of Living Index:119.6
Median Home Value:$459,100
Median Household Income:$133,161
Median Rent:$1,176
Grocery:102
Health:100.1
Housing:163.8
Utilities:100.2
Transportation:103.7
Miscellaneous:95.5

Hitchcock
Overall Cost of Living Index:83.2
Median Home Value:$163,400
Median Household Income:$45,434
Median Rent:$851
Grocery:96
Health:101
Housing:52
Utilities:93.5
Transportation:89.6
Miscellaneous:104.1

Humble 
Overall Cost of Living Index:93.4
Median Home Value:$190,900
Median Household Income:$42,129
Median Rent:$923
Grocery:96.1
Health:92.4
Housing:70.3
Utilities:96.9
Transportation:118.7
Miscellaneous:101.2

Jersey Village
Overall Cost of Living Index:106
Median Home Value:$321,500
Median Household Income:$67,607
Median Rent:$1,081
Grocery:97
Health:92.4
Housing:111.5
Utilities:96.7
Transportation:119.7
Miscellaneous:99.9

Katy 
Overall Cost of Living Index:104.2
Median Home Value:$315,500
Median Household Income:$73,006
Median Rent:$1,082
Grocery:99.1
Health:92.4
Housing:104.8
Utilities:92.9
Transportation:122.1
Miscellaneous:99.3

Knollwood
Overall Cost of Living Index:68.4
Median Home Value:$26,400
Median Household Income:$43,036
Median Rent:$582
Grocery:95.9
Health:116.8
Housing:9.6
Utilities:102.7
Transportation:83.5
Miscellaneous:89.6

La Marque
Overall Cost of Living Index:82.5
Median Home Value:$162,800
Median Household Income:$44,040
Median Rent:$859
Grocery:94.7
Health:101
Housing:51.6
Utilities:93.5
Transportation:87.2
Miscellaneous:104.3

La Porte
Overall Cost of Living Index:94.5
Median Home Value:$208,400
Median Household Income:$67,806
Median Rent:$949
Grocery:96.7
Health:92.4
Housing:76.4
Utilities:96.7
Transportation:116.7
Miscellaneous:99.2

League City
Overall Cost of Living Index:103.4
Median Home Value:$304,300
Median Household Income:$90,972
Median Rent:$1,014
Grocery:100.2
Health:101
Housing:114.4
Utilities:91.9
Transportation:95
Miscellaneous:102.4

Liberty
Overall Cost of Living Index:89.6
Median Home Value:$153,200
Median Household Income:$42,931
Median Rent:$980
Grocery:95.2
Health:100.7
Housing:53.8
Utilities:92.6
Transportation:131
Miscellaneous:94

Magnolia
Overall Cost of Living Index:104
Median Home Value:$229,000
Median Household Income:$39,167
Median Rent:$907
Grocery:101.6
Health:95.6
Housing:119.8
Utilities:97.2
Transportation:93.8
Miscellaneous:98.6

Mission Bend 
Overall Cost of Living Index:96.6
Median Home Value:$193,000
Median Household Income:$60,085
Median Rent:$840
Grocery:96.4
Health:91.5
Housing:71.3
Utilities:96.1
Transportation:127.2
Miscellaneous:107.8

Missouri City 
Overall Cost of Living Index:104.3
Median Home Value:$281,900
Median Household Income:$84,662
Median Rent:$945
Grocery:99.1
Health:91.5
Housing:98.4
Utilities:101.6
Transportation:121.5
Miscellaneous:106.9

Pasadena
Overall Cost of Living Index:91.2
Median Home Value:$187,200
Median Household Income:$46,585
Median Rent:$918
Grocery:96.4
Health:92.4
Housing:65.2
Utilities:96.4
Transportation:117.1
Miscellaneous:99. 7

Pearland
Overall Cost of Living Index:106.4
Median Home Value:$304,200
Median Household Income:$94,653
Median Rent:$1,045
Grocery:100.4
Health:84.8
Housing:115.6
Utilities:94.1
Transportation:124.8
Miscellaneous:93. 9

Porter Heights 
Overall Cost of Living Index:95.9
Median Home Value:$196,500
Median Household Income:$22,383
Median Rent:$875
Grocery:98.6
Health:95.6
Housing:91
Utilities:96.9
Transportation:98.8
Miscellaneous:99

Santa Fe
Overall Cost of Living Index:93.7
Median Home Value:$273,900
Median Household Income:$61,552
Median Rent:$967
Grocery:98.3
Health:101
Housing:86.2
Utilities:90.3
Transportation:91.6
Miscellaneous:102.5

South Houston
Overall Cost of Living Index:90.3
Median Home Value:$168,200
Median Household Income:$37,483
Median Rent:$894
Grocery:95.2
Health:92.4
Housing:59.1
Utilities:96.1
Transportation:123.1
Miscellaneous:99.6

Spring 
Overall Cost of Living Index:98.7
Median Home Value:$250,300
Median Household Income:$67,252
Median Rent:$1,001
Grocery:96.1
Health:92.4
Housing:83.9
Utilities:96. 9
Transportation:125.6
Miscellaneous:100.4

Stafford 
Overall Cost of Living Index:99.7
Median Home Value:$246,900
Median Household Income:$58,519
Median Rent:$902
Grocery:97.6
Health:91.5
Housing:88.2
Utilities:101
Transportation:113.6
Miscellaneous:107.8

Sugar Land 
Overall Cost of Living Index:114.6
Median Home Value:$362,000
Median Household Income:$105,400
Median Rent:$1,016
Grocery:102.3
Health:91.5
Housing:130.9
Utilities:101
Transportation:121.2
Miscellaneous:107.1

Texas City
Overall Cost of Living Index:82
Median Home Value:$159,900
Median Household Income:$44,659
Median Rent:$851
Grocery:94.9
Health:101
Housing:52.1
Utilities:91.9
Transportation:85.5
Miscellaneous:102.9

The Woodlands
Overall Cost of Living Index:112.9
Median Home Value:$413,100
Median Household Income:$108,635
Median Rent:$1,090
Grocery:102.2
Health:95.6
Housing:146.3
Utilities:97.5
Transportation:96.4
Miscellaneous:99.1

Tiki Island
Overall Cost of Living Index:134
Median Home Value:$625,200
Median Household Income:$115,972
Median Rent:$1,302
Grocery:102.7
Health:101
Housing:203.6
Utilities:91.9
Transportation:109.6
Miscellaneous:103.4

Tomball
Overall Cost of Living Index:103.7
Median Home Value:$274,100
Median Household Income:$42,070
Median Rent:$1,032
Grocery:98.2
Health:92.4
Housing:104.3
Utilities:97.2
Transportation:117.8
Miscellaneous:100.2

Kirby
Overall Cost of Living Index:82.9
Median Home Value:$160,600
Median Household Income:$48,545
Median Rent:$840
Grocery:89.8
Health:93.3
Housing:55.7
Utilities:95.2
Transportation:97.5
Miscellaneous:95.9

Waller
Overall Cost of Living Index:88.2
Median Home Value:$177,000
Median Household Income:$48,684
Median Rent:$868
Grocery:98.7
Health:101
Housing:60.3
Utilities:99
Transportation:106.6
Miscellaneous:96.3

Webster
Overall Cost of Living Index:90.7
Median Home Value:$218,600
Median Household Income:$44,107
Median Rent:$941
Grocery:97
Health:92.4
Housing:65.7
Utilities:96.7
Transportation:112.4
Miscellaneous:100.5

West University Place
Overall Cost of Living Index:197.6
Median Home Value:$1,102,700
Median Household Income:$207,429
Median Rent:$2,182
Grocery:113.3
Health:92.4
Housing:402.7
Utilities:96.4
Transportation:107.1
Miscellaneous:100.4

Willis
Overall Cost of Living Index:96
Median Home Value:$227,400
Median Household Income:$36,069
Median Rent:$915
Grocery:96.8
Health:95.6
Housing:92
Utilities:98.7
Transportation:98.7
Miscellaneous:98.2
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