CostIndexUSA

Houston, TX vs Ocala, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Ocala
95.2
overall index
$1,600/mo rent

Ocala is slightly cheaper than Houston — 3.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Houston, you would need $77,200 in Ocala. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing17.5%
Houston
104.5
Ocala
86.2
🛒 Groceries4.4%
Houston
100.6
Ocala
96.2
🚗 Transportation+3.4%
Houston
100.4
Ocala
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+3.4%
Houston
90.8
Ocala
93.9
Utilities8.6%
Houston
95.3
Ocala
87.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Houston to see what you'd need to earn in Ocala to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Ocala, FL
$77,200
$2,800 less needed in Ocala

Formula: salary × (95.2 ÷ 98.6) = salary × 0.9655. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Houston, TX

Median Home Price
$302,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
104.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.7×

Ocala, FL

Median Home Price
$271,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
86.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.1×

Houston has 17.5% lower housing costs compared to Ocala.

Income & Job Market

Houston, TX

Median Household Income
$79,500
Per Capita Income
$45,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
2,304,580
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareAerospaceManufacturingLogistics

Ocala, FL

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
63,591
Top Industries
HealthcareEquestrianManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Houston, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Ocala, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.