Median rent is 26% lower in Houston ($1,361/mo vs $1,831/mo). Buying is cheaper in Houston, where the median home runs $277,800 versus $616,000. Households earn more in Denver ($94,718 vs $64,813 a year).
City A
Denver, CO
City B
Houston, TX
How much would you need to earn in Houston, TX to maintain your standard of living from Denver, CO?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Denver
Colorado
Houston
Texas
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Houston — median rent of $1,361/mo versus $1,831/mo in Denver, a 26% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Denver: the median home is $616,000 versus $277,800 in Houston — 55% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Denver
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Houston
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Denver has cleaner air on average: 27.0 AQI (Good) compared to 59.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Denver if you prioritize higher median household income ($94,718/yr).
Pick Houston if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,361/mo median).
Pick Denver if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 27.0).
Is Denver cheaper than Houston?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Denver vs Houston?
Median rent is $1,831/mo in Denver, CO and $1,361/mo in Houston, TX. Houston, TX has the lower rent by about 26%.
Which has higher salaries — Denver or Houston?
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver, CO and $64,813 in Houston, TX. Denver, CO has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Denver, CO has better air quality on average: 27.0 AQI versus 59.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Denver or Houston?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Houston to match my Denver income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
