🧠Relocation Route
Chicago → Houston
Chicago, IL vs Houston, TX: Census ACS and BEA price parities
How does the cost of living in Chicago, IL compare to Houston? Moving from Chicago, IL to Houston means median owner-occupied home values are about 20% lower in Houston ($253,400 vs $315,200 in Chicago), and Texas does not levy an individual income tax. Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago vs $62,894 in Houston. Across all goods and services, the Houston metro's overall price level is 98.6 against a US average of 100, versus 103.6 for Chicago (about 5% cheaper).
Cost & Income Comparison
| Metric | Chicago | Houston | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median owner-occupied home value | $315,200 | $253,400 | US Census ACS, US Census ACS |
| Median household income | $75,134 | $62,894 | US Census ACS, US Census ACS |
| Median gross rent | $1,380 | $1,313 | US Census ACS, US Census ACS |
| Overall price level (US average = 100) | 103.6 | 98.6 | US Bureau of Economic Analysis (Regional) |
| Population | 2,707,648 | 2,300,419 | US Census ACS, US Census ACS |
The Texas Tax Advantage. Texas does not levy an individual income tax; for movers from a state that has one, that is a meaningful raise. Estimate your savings →