Houston, TX vs San Francisco, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, San Francisco, CA is 17.2% more expensive than Houston, TX (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Houston works out to about $87,900 in San Francisco, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 86.3% more in San Francisco. Goods are 7.8% higher and other services 11.1% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 81.1% higher in San Francisco.
- Typical asking rent is $3,445 a month in San Francisco and $1,638 in Houston, $21,684 a year more in San Francisco (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $1,120,000 in San Francisco and $303,000 in Houston.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (18.1%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 86.3% higher in San Francisco than in Houston
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Houston, TX
- San Francisco, CA
All items Houston, TX: 98.6 San Francisco, CA: 115.6
Goods Houston, TX: 100.6 San Francisco, CA: 108.5
Housing (rents) Houston, TX: 104.5 San Francisco, CA: 194.7
Utilities Houston, TX: 95.3 San Francisco, CA: 172.6
Other services Houston, TX: 95.6 San Francisco, CA: 106.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.6 | 115.6 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 108.5 |
| Housing (rents) | 104.5 | 194.7 |
| Utilities | 95.3 | 172.6 |
| Other services | 95.6 | 106.2 |
| Category | Houston | San Francisco | San Francisco vs Houston |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.6 | 115.6 | +17.2% |
| Goods | 100.6 | 108.5 | +7.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 104.5 | 194.7 | +86.3% |
| Utilities | 95.3 | 172.6 | +81.1% |
| Other services | 95.6 | 106.2 | +11.1% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,638 | $3,445 | +110.3% |
| Typical home value | $303,000 | $1,120,000 | +270.0% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Houston | $75,000 | $87,900 | +17.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Houston and San Francisco has narrowed since 2008: 19.6 points then, 17.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Houston, TX
- San Francisco, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.4 | 119.1 |
| 2009 | 100.6 | 115.2 |
| 2010 | 101.0 | 113.9 |
| 2011 | 98.7 | 112.4 |
| 2012 | 100.1 | 112.5 |
| 2013 | 101.1 | 112.9 |
| 2014 | 102.2 | 114.0 |
| 2015 | 103.1 | 115.8 |
| 2016 | 102.4 | 116.4 |
| 2017 | 100.0 | 121.6 |
| 2018 | 101.9 | 122.3 |
| 2019 | 101.4 | 119.7 |
| 2020 | 100.0 | 119.6 |
| 2021 | 99.7 | 120.0 |
| 2022 | 98.8 | 118.0 |
| 2023 | 99.7 | 117.6 |
| 2024 | 98.6 | 115.6 |
Goods
- Houston, TX
- San Francisco, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.9 | 117.8 |
| 2009 | 98.0 | 110.0 |
| 2010 | 99.6 | 107.0 |
| 2011 | 97.6 | 105.5 |
| 2012 | 99.0 | 108.0 |
| 2013 | 97.7 | 109.9 |
| 2014 | 98.9 | 108.8 |
| 2015 | 98.9 | 111.4 |
| 2016 | 97.7 | 111.2 |
| 2017 | 96.3 | 114.0 |
| 2018 | 99.0 | 116.2 |
| 2019 | 98.3 | 113.8 |
| 2020 | 96.7 | 113.0 |
| 2021 | 97.7 | 113.8 |
| 2022 | 98.1 | 114.4 |
| 2023 | 101.7 | 115.2 |
| 2024 | 100.6 | 108.5 |
Housing (rents)
- Houston, TX
- San Francisco, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.9 | 191.0 |
| 2009 | 101.9 | 192.1 |
| 2010 | 103.5 | 189.2 |
| 2011 | 99.4 | 191.9 |
| 2012 | 103.4 | 189.0 |
| 2013 | 104.1 | 190.7 |
| 2014 | 107.6 | 198.1 |
| 2015 | 108.6 | 204.5 |
| 2016 | 110.0 | 210.4 |
| 2017 | 108.5 | 215.2 |
| 2018 | 108.0 | 219.7 |
| 2019 | 107.4 | 213.0 |
| 2020 | 107.5 | 227.1 |
| 2021 | 105.6 | 213.5 |
| 2022 | 107.8 | 206.3 |
| 2023 | 106.3 | 200.1 |
| 2024 | 104.5 | 194.7 |
Utilities
- Houston, TX
- San Francisco, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.4 | 115.6 |
| 2009 | 95.3 | 115.7 |
| 2010 | 97.6 | 118.5 |
| 2011 | 97.4 | 113.2 |
| 2012 | 95.1 | 110.3 |
| 2013 | 95.8 | 130.1 |
| 2014 | 94.5 | 135.1 |
| 2015 | 83.8 | 142.5 |
| 2016 | 92.5 | 145.5 |
| 2017 | 85.7 | 152.4 |
| 2018 | 83.1 | 158.4 |
| 2019 | 91.2 | 162.8 |
| 2020 | 86.4 | 161.3 |
| 2021 | 89.1 | 167.0 |
| 2022 | 92.3 | 170.4 |
| 2023 | 94.9 | 162.2 |
| 2024 | 95.3 | 172.6 |
Other services
- Houston, TX
- San Francisco, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.1 | 107.0 |
| 2009 | 102.4 | 104.0 |
| 2010 | 101.4 | 104.1 |
| 2011 | 99.3 | 102.7 |
| 2012 | 100.2 | 102.2 |
| 2013 | 103.3 | 101.6 |
| 2014 | 103.7 | 103.2 |
| 2015 | 106.0 | 104.3 |
| 2016 | 104.3 | 104.9 |
| 2017 | 101.2 | 111.0 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 110.8 |
| 2019 | 102.5 | 108.6 |
| 2020 | 100.9 | 105.2 |
| 2021 | 100.2 | 108.2 |
| 2022 | 97.0 | 105.9 |
| 2023 | 96.6 | 105.4 |
| 2024 | 95.6 | 106.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $3,445 in San Francisco vs $1,638 in Houston
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Houston, TX
- San Francisco, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | San Francisco, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,210 | $2,247 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,239 | $2,348 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,239 | $2,413 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,229 | $2,413 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,237 | $2,448 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,247 | $2,505 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,237 | $2,507 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,226 | $2,467 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,242 | $2,518 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,257 | $2,570 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,259 | $2,597 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,282 | $2,583 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,294 | $2,614 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,308 | $2,663 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,303 | $2,687 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,305 | $2,675 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,311 | $2,703 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,330 | $2,742 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,330 | $2,761 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,331 | $2,744 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,345 | $2,768 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,334 | $2,732 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,343 | $2,618 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,346 | $2,520 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,365 | $2,549 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,424 | $2,647 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,483 | $2,739 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,497 | $2,732 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,523 | $2,797 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,564 | $2,863 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,577 | $2,887 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,561 | $2,830 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,583 | $2,859 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,605 | $2,874 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,608 | $2,878 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,594 | $2,831 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,604 | $2,869 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,627 | $2,913 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,635 | $2,926 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,623 | $2,915 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,635 | $2,975 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,639 | $3,041 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,636 | $3,082 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,623 | $3,084 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,620 | $3,161 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,636 | $3,291 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,638 | $3,445 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $1,120,000 in San Francisco vs $303,000 in Houston
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Houston, TX
- San Francisco, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | San Francisco, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $184K | $669K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $188K | $693K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $192K | $715K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $195K | $739K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $198K | $765K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $200K | $770K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $201K | $765K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $204K | $774K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $205K | $794K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $207K | $809K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $209K | $821K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $211K | $848K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $213K | $881K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $215K | $905K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $218K | $912K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $220K | $914K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $223K | $905K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $224K | $901K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $225K | $906K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $228K | $912K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $230K | $926K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $231K | $926K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $234K | $934K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $242K | $972K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $251K | $1.01M | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $262K | $1.06M | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $272K | $1.09M | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $281K | $1.11M | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $297K | $1.18M | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $313K | $1.22M | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $318K | $1.16M | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $315K | $1.11M | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $311K | $1.07M | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $311K | $1.08M | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $313K | $1.1M | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $313K | $1.1M | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $314K | $1.1M | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $316K | $1.13M | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $315K | $1.13M | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $314K | $1.13M | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $313K | $1.12M | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $310K | $1.1M | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $308K | $1.09M | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $308K | $1.1M | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $307K | $1.1M | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $304K | $1.11M | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $303K | $1.12M | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Houston, TX
- Cost of living in San Francisco, CA
- Reverse: moving from San Francisco to Houston
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.