CostIndexUSA

Houston, TX vs Utica, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent
More AffordableNY
Utica
92.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Utica is moderately cheaper than Houston — 6.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Houston, you would need $75,200 in Utica. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing36.7%
Houston
104.5
Utica
66.1
🛒 Groceries0.9%
Houston
100.6
Utica
99.7
🚗 Transportation+2.2%
Houston
100.4
Utica
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+2.3%
Houston
90.8
Utica
92.9
Utilities+38.4%
Houston
95.3
Utica
131.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Utica, NY
$75,200
$4,800 less needed in Utica

Formula: salary × (92.7 ÷ 98.6) = salary × 0.9402. 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×

Utica, NY

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
66.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.9×

Houston has 36.7% lower housing costs compared to Utica.

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

Utica, NY

Median Household Income
$61,800
Per Capita Income
$35,200
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
60,651
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentEducationRetail

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)

Utica, NY
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.