Median rent is 7% lower in The Woodlands ($1,822/mo vs $1,957/mo). Buying is cheaper in Sugar Land, where the median home runs $430,200 versus $511,700. Households earn more in The Woodlands ($140,701 vs $136,217 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (99.7).
City A
Sugar Land, TX
City B
The Woodlands, TX
How much would you need to earn in The Woodlands, TX to maintain your standard of living from Sugar Land, 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
Sugar Land
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
Median rent is modestly lower in The Woodlands at $1,822/mo compared to $1,957/mo in Sugar Land (7% gap). Median home values are within 16% of each other: $430,200 in Sugar Land and $511,700 in The Woodlands.
Metric
Sugar Land
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.
Sugar Land
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
The Woodlands
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is not yet available for these cities.
Sugar Land 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 Sugar Land.
Median rent is $1,957/mo in Sugar Land, TX and $1,822/mo in The Woodlands, TX. The Woodlands, TX has the lower rent by about 7%.
Median household income is $136,217 in Sugar Land, 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 Sugar Land, 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
