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Compare Cost of Living

Select two U.S. metro areas to compare their Regional Price Parity (RPP) indices for goods, services, and housing, plus salary equivalents.

Houston vs Los Angeles

Los Angeles is 15.1% more expensive than Houston. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities, national average = 100.

Metro A
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
98.6
Overall RPP
100.6
Goods
95.3
Services
104.5
Rents
Metro B
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
113.6
Overall RPP
106.6
Goods
158.6
Services
170.4
Rents

Category Breakdown

Category Houston Los Angeles Diff (B−A)
Overall Cost 98.6 113.6 +14.9
Goods 100.6 106.6 +6.0
Services 95.3 158.6 +63.3
Rents/Housing 104.5 170.4 +65.9

Visual Comparison

Overall Cost Higher than Houston
Houston
98.6
Los Angeles
113.6
Goods Higher than Houston
Houston
100.6
Los Angeles
106.6
Services Higher than Houston
Houston
95.3
Los Angeles
158.6
Rents/Housing Higher than Houston
Houston
104.5
Los Angeles
170.4

Vertical marker = national average (100)

Salary Equivalents

What you would need to earn in Los Angeles to match your purchasing power in Houston:

Salary in Houston Equivalent in Los Angeles Difference
$50,000 $57,572 +$7,572
$75,000 $86,358 +$11,358
$100,000 $115,145 +$15,145
$150,000 $172,717 +$22,717

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts and reverse direction.

Metro Context

Metric Houston Los Angeles
Population 7,274,714 13,012,469
Median Household Income $80,458 $93,525
Data Year 2024 2024
State TX CA

Key Differences

Overall Cost: Los Angeles is 14.9 points pricier than Houston (98.6 vs 113.6).

Goods: Los Angeles is 6.0 points pricier than Houston (100.6 vs 106.6).

Services: Los Angeles is 63.3 points pricier than Houston (95.3 vs 158.6).

Rents/Housing: Los Angeles is 65.9 points pricier than Houston (104.5 vs 170.4).

⇆ Reverse comparison Houston details → Los Angeles details →

Also Compare Houston With

vs New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria vs Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington vs Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Los Angeles more expensive than Houston? ▼
Los Angeles is 15.1% more expensive than Houston. The overall cost index is 113.6 vs 98.6 (national average = 100).
What salary in Los Angeles is equivalent to $100K in Houston? ▼
A $100,000 salary in Houston has the same purchasing power as $115,145 in Los Angeles, based on BEA Regional Price Parity data.
How do housing costs compare between Houston and Los Angeles? ▼
Housing/rents in Houston are indexed at 104.5 while Los Angeles is at 170.4 (national average = 100). Los Angeles has higher housing costs.
Which is larger - Houston or Los Angeles? ▼
Los Angeles is larger by population. Houston has 7,274,714 residents vs 13,012,469 in Los Angeles.

Explore More Data

Salary Calculator → Cost Rankings → All Metros → Rent Data → Salary Data → Relocation Guide →

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Index where U.S. average = 100