Denver vs Houston
Cost of living comparison — C2ER 2024-2025 data
Compare a different city:
VS
QUICK ANSWER
Houston is 19% cheaper than Denver overall.Denver has a cost of living index of 118 vs Houston at 95 (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing — Denver costs 37% more.

Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Denver
CO
118
COLI index
VS
Houston
TX
95
COLI index
Category Breakdown
| Category | Denver | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall COLI | 118 | 95 | -19% |
| Housing | 168 | 105 | -37% |
| Groceries | 105 | 103 | -2% |
| Transport | 110 | 104 | -5% |
| Healthcare | 106 | 101 | -5% |
| Utilities | 96 | 112 | +17% |
Median 1BR Rent
Denver
$1,750/mo
Houston
$1,350/mo
Median Home Price
Denver
$545,000
Houston
$265,000
Median Household Income
Denver
$72,173
Houston
$56,019
Share Your Result
Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore Related Tools
Last updated: June 2026
Methodology: Cost of living indices from C2ER Cost of Living Index 2024-2025. Rent data from Zillow December 2024. Home price data from Zillow Home Value Index December 2024. Household income from US Census Bureau ACS 2023. National average COLI = 100. Data updated annually.