CostIndexUSA

Houston, TX vs St. George, UT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent
More AffordableUT
St. George
97.3
overall index
$1,900/mo rent

St. George is slightly cheaper than Houston — 1.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Houston, you would need $78,900 in St. George. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing6.1%
Houston
104.5
St. George
98.1
🛒 Groceries4.2%
Houston
100.6
St. George
96.4
🚗 Transportation+3.5%
Houston
100.4
St. George
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+3.5%
Houston
90.8
St. George
94
Utilities18.5%
Houston
95.3
St. George
77.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. George, UT
$78,900
$1,100 less needed in St. George

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 98.6) = salary × 0.9868. 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×

St. George, UT

Median Home Price
$520,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,900
Housing Index
98.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.8×

Houston has 6.1% lower housing costs compared to St. George.

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

St. George, UT

Median Household Income
$77,500
Per Capita Income
$44,200
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
89,587
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismReal EstateRetailConstruction

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)

St. George, UT
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.