Median rent is 25% lower in Houston ($1,361/mo vs $1,822/mo). Buying is cheaper in Houston, where the median home runs $277,800 versus $511,700. Households earn more in The Woodlands ($140,701 vs $64,813 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (99.7).
City A
Houston, TX
City B
The Woodlands, TX
How much would you need to earn in The Woodlands, TX to maintain your standard of living from Houston, TX?
Equivalent salary in The Woodlands, TX
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
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
The Woodlands
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 $1,822/mo in The Woodlands, a 25% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in The Woodlands: the median home is $511,700 versus $277,800 in Houston — 46% more expensive.
Metric
Houston
The Woodlands
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · 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
The Woodlands
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Houston (avg AQI 59.0) but not yet for The Woodlands.
Pick The Woodlands if you prioritize higher median household income ($140,701/yr).
Pick Houston if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,361/mo median).
Houston is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 99.7 versus 99.7 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Houston.
Median rent is $1,361/mo in Houston, TX and $1,822/mo in The Woodlands, TX. Houston, TX has the lower rent by about 25%.
Median household income is $64,813 in Houston, TX and $140,701 in The Woodlands, TX. The Woodlands, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Houston, TX is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in The Woodlands, TX (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
