Houston vs San Francisco
Side-by-side comparison of cost of living, state income tax, housing estimates, and salary equivalents between Houston, TX and San Francisco, CA.
Houston, TX
COL Index
96
Monthly Budget
$4,800
State Tax
None
Population
2.3M
San Francisco, CA
COL Index
179
Monthly Budget
$8,950
State Tax
12.3%
Population
0.9M
Houston is 86% less expensive than San Francisco
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly costs for a typical household in each city.
| Category | Houston | San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,551 | $3,605 | -$2,054 |
| Groceries | $629 | $1,061 | -$432 |
| Transport | $771 | $1,369 | -$598 |
| Healthcare | $389 | $621 | -$232 |
| Utilities | $288 | $537 | -$249 |
| Other | $1,162 | $1,958 | -$796 |
| Total | $4,800 | $8,950 | -$4,150 |
Tax Comparison on $100K Salary
Estimated annual taxes for a single filer earning $100,000 in each city.
| Component | Houston (TX) | San Francisco (CA) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Tax | $13,170 | $13,170 | $0 |
| State Tax | $0 | $5,953 | -$5,953 |
| FICA | $7,650 | $7,650 | $0 |
| Total Tax | $20,820 | $26,773 | -$5,953 |
| Take-Home Pay | $79,180 | $73,227 | +$5,953 |
Salary Equivalent
What a Houston salary is worth in San Francisco (and vice versa), adjusted for cost of living.
| Houston Salary | Equivalent in San Francisco | San Francisco Salary | Equivalent in Houston |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $93,229 | $50,000 | $26,816 |
| $75,000 | $139,844 | $75,000 | $40,223 |
| $100,000 | $186,458 | $100,000 | $53,631 |
| $150,000 | $279,688 | $150,000 | $80,447 |