CostIndexUSA

Houston, TX vs Redding, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent
CA
Redding
100.7
overall index
$1,600/mo rent

Houston is slightly cheaper than Redding — 2.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Houston, you would need $81,700 in Redding. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing14.4%
Houston
104.5
Redding
89.4
🛒 Groceries+4.6%
Houston
100.6
Redding
105.2
🚗 Transportation+4.9%
Houston
100.4
Redding
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+5.0%
Houston
90.8
Redding
95.3
Utilities+65.5%
Houston
95.3
Redding
157.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Redding, CA
$81,700
$1,700 more needed in Redding

Formula: salary × (100.7 ÷ 98.6) = salary × 1.0213. 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×

Redding, CA

Median Home Price
$362,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
89.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.9×

Houston has 14.4% lower housing costs compared to Redding.

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

Redding, CA

Median Household Income
$75,900
Per Capita Income
$43,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
91,305
Top Industries
HealthcareGovernmentRetailManufacturingEducation

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)

Redding, CA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.