CostIndexUSA

Houston, TX vs Vallejo, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent
CA
Vallejo
108.5
overall index
$2,375/mo rent

Houston is moderately cheaper than Vallejo — 10.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Houston, you would need $88,000 in Vallejo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+35.9%
Houston
104.5
Vallejo
142
🛒 Groceries+4.6%
Houston
100.6
Vallejo
105.2
🚗 Transportation+4.9%
Houston
100.4
Vallejo
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+5.0%
Houston
90.8
Vallejo
95.3
Utilities+62.6%
Houston
95.3
Vallejo
155

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Vallejo, CA
$88,000
$8,000 more needed in Vallejo

Formula: salary × (108.5 ÷ 98.6) = salary × 1.1004. 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×

Vallejo, CA

Median Home Price
$567,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,375
Housing Index
142
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.9×

Vallejo has 35.9% higher housing costs compared to Houston.

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

Vallejo, CA

Median Household Income
$100,000
Per Capita Income
$57,000
Unemployment Rate
4.9%
Population
121,253
Top Industries
HealthcareMilitaryManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Vallejo, CA
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.