Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Cost of Living & Economic Score
Federal Bureau of Economic Analysis cost-of-living and household-budget data for the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metropolitan statistical area.
Cost of living in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land
According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, prices in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metropolitan area run 3.0% below the U.S. average (Regional Price Parity index 97.0 on a base of 100). That puts Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land close to the middle of the U.S. cost-of-living range.
For broader state context — including state taxes, insurance, and energy costs that affect every Texas household — see the Texas state report.
Other Texas metros
- Austin-Round Rock, TX RPP 103.5 C-
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX RPP 101.0 C
- San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX RPP 95.5 C+
- Tyler, TX RPP 90.0 B
- Brownsville-Harlingen, TX RPP 85.0 B+
- McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX RPP 85.0 B+
- El Paso, TX RPP 88.0 B
Compare to similar-cost metros
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX?
The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metro area has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 97.0 (U.S.=100), meaning prices are 3.0% below the national average. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Is Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land an affordable place to live?
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX has an InflationRank score of 78/100 (grade C+), reflecting cost of living near the U.S. national average. The metro RPP of 97.0 compares to a U.S. baseline of 100.
How does Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land compare to other cities for cost of living?
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX has a cost-of-living index of 97.0 (U.S.=100), 3.0% below the national average. Similar-cost metros include Jacksonville, FL (RPP 97.0), Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA (RPP 97.0).
About the InflationRank Score
The InflationRank Score is a proprietary 0–100 composite that summarizes a metro area's cost-of-living and economic conditions on a familiar A–F grading scale. The composite weighs cost level, inflation pressure, and income resilience, sourced from federal government datasets and reviewed annually as federal data refreshes.
Underlying data is drawn from authoritative federal economic agencies and public housing datasets. See full data sources →