Median rent is 32% lower in Houston ($1,361/mo vs $2,013/mo). Buying is cheaper in Houston, where the median home runs $277,800 versus $789,800. Households earn more in Scottsdale ($110,886 vs $64,813 a year).
City A
Houston, TX
City B
Scottsdale, AZ
How much would you need to earn in Scottsdale, AZ to maintain your standard of living from Houston, TX?
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
Houston
Texas
Scottsdale
Arizona
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 $2,013/mo in Scottsdale, a 32% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Scottsdale: the median home is $789,800 versus $277,800 in Houston — 65% 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.
Houston
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Scottsdale
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Scottsdale has cleaner air on average: 40.0 AQI (Good) compared to 59.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Scottsdale if you prioritize higher median household income ($110,886/yr).
Pick Houston if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,361/mo median).
Pick Scottsdale if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 40.0).
Is Houston cheaper than Scottsdale?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Houston vs Scottsdale?
Median rent is $1,361/mo in Houston, TX and $2,013/mo in Scottsdale, AZ. Houston, TX has the lower rent by about 32%.
Which has higher salaries — Houston or Scottsdale?
Median household income is $64,813 in Houston, TX and $110,886 in Scottsdale, AZ. Scottsdale, AZ 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?
Scottsdale, AZ has better air quality on average: 40.0 AQI versus 59.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Houston or Scottsdale?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Scottsdale to match my Houston 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
