Cost of Living: Houston, TX vs Santa Clara, CA (2026)

Houston

Texas
88
VS

Santa Clara

California
307

Houston is 71% cheaper than Santa Clara.

$1,313/mo ↓ 56%
Median Rent
$2,985/mo ↑ 127%
$62,894/yr ↓ 64%
Median Income
$173,670/yr ↑ 176%
$253,400 ↓ 83%
Home Value
$1,527,900 ↑ 503%
$1,316/mo ↓ 57%
Owner Costs
$3,051/mo ↑ 132%
2,300,419
Population
129,239

Tax Comparison

0%
Income Tax
13.3%
6.25%
State Sales Tax
7.25%
1.6%
Property Tax
0.71%

Affordability

25.1%
rent-to-income
Affordability
20.6%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing Houston, TX and Santa Clara, CA, the overall cost of living indices are 88 and 307 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,672/month cheaper in Houston, saving renters about $20,064/year.

Median household income is $110,776/year higher in Santa Clara. Home values also differ significantly — the median in Houston is $253,400 compared to $1,527,900 in Santa Clara.

Texas has no state income tax, giving Houston residents a significant tax advantage over California's 13.3% rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Houston vs Santa Clara — common questions

Is Houston or Santa Clara cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, Houston is cheaper to live in with an index of 88 compared to 307 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between Houston and Santa Clara?
Median rent in Houston is $1,313/month and in Santa Clara it's $2,985/month — a difference of $1,672/month.
Which city has higher income, Houston or Santa Clara?
Median household income is $62,894 in Houston and $173,670 in Santa Clara. Median household income is $110,776/year higher in Santa Clara.
How do taxes compare between Texas and California?
Texas has 0% income tax, 6.25% sales tax, and 1.6% property tax. California has 13.3% income tax, 7.25% sales tax, and 0.71% property tax.
Should I move to Houston or Santa Clara?
It depends on your priorities. Houston has a cost index of 88 with median rent of $1,313/mo, while Santa Clara has a cost index of 307 with rent of $2,985/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View Houston details → View Santa Clara details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for Houston and Santa Clara

Houston vs. Chicago Houston vs. Phoenix Houston vs. Los Angeles Houston vs. Philadelphia Houston vs. New York Houston vs. San Antonio Santa Clara vs. Carrollton Santa Clara vs. Fargo Santa Clara vs. New Haven Santa Clara vs. Norman Santa Clara vs. Sterling Heights Santa Clara vs. Lewisville