Houston vs San Jose
Side-by-side comparison of cost of living, state income tax, housing estimates, and salary equivalents between Houston, TX and San Jose, CA.
Houston, TX
COL Index
96
Monthly Budget
$4,800
State Tax
None
Population
2.3M
San Jose, CA
COL Index
214
Monthly Budget
$10,700
State Tax
12.3%
Population
1.0M
Houston is 123% less expensive than San Jose
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly costs for a typical household in each city.
| Category | Houston | San Jose | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,551 | $4,472 | -$2,921 |
| Groceries | $629 | $1,243 | -$614 |
| Transport | $771 | $1,621 | -$850 |
| Healthcare | $389 | $719 | -$330 |
| Utilities | $288 | $642 | -$354 |
| Other | $1,162 | $2,294 | -$1,132 |
| Total | $4,800 | $10,700 | -$5,900 |
Tax Comparison on $100K Salary
Estimated annual taxes for a single filer earning $100,000 in each city.
| Component | Houston (TX) | San Jose (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 Jose (and vice versa), adjusted for cost of living.
| Houston Salary | Equivalent in San Jose | San Jose Salary | Equivalent in Houston |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $111,458 | $50,000 | $22,430 |
| $75,000 | $167,188 | $75,000 | $33,645 |
| $100,000 | $222,917 | $100,000 | $44,860 |
| $150,000 | $334,375 | $150,000 | $67,290 |