Cost of Living: San Francisco vs Houston
Purchasing Power Parity: how far does your salary go in San Francisco compared to Houston?
In San Francisco, a salary of $100,000 is equivalent to about $61K in Houston. That means Houston offers 63% more spending power. Your money goes further in Houston.
Based on Numbeo cost of living indices. Full methodology.
Salary Converter
Equivalent salary needed in Houston
$61K
To maintain the same standard of living, you'd need $61K in Houston vs $100K in San Francisco
San Francisco
96.3
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
Houston
58.9
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
How They Compare
Houston is 39% cheaper than San Francisco
What Top Roles Earn Here
Real salary data for roles with earnings data in both San Francisco and Houston, adjusted for cost of living.
| Role | San Francisco median | Houston median | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $200K | $110K | San Francisco wins by 10% |
| Data Scientists | $195K | $111K | San Francisco wins by 7% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $244K | $200K | Houston wins by 34% |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $193K | $108K | San Francisco wins by 8% |
| Cloud Architect | $150K | $85K | San Francisco wins by 7% |
Salary data from public records. Adjusted for cost of living using PPP ratio (0.61x). Methodology.
See real salary data
Check actual public salaries for these cities on RoleHue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:How much more does it cost to live in San Francisco vs Houston?
A: San Francisco is approximately 63% more expensive than Houston, based on Numbeo cost of living indices. A salary of $100,000 in Houston is equivalent to about $163K in San Francisco. However, actual costs vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation.
Q:What salary do I need in San Francisco to match $100,000 in Houston?
A: To maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Houston, you would need approximately $163K in San Francisco. This accounts for differences in housing, groceries, transportation, and other living expenses between the two cities.
Q:Are these cost of living differences accurate for everyone?
A: Cost of living indices provide a useful benchmark, but individual experiences vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation. The data comes from Numbeo's crowd-sourced cost of living database and reflects average spending patterns. Use the interactive calculator above to model your specific salary scenario.
Q:How do real salaries compare between San Francisco and Houston?
A: Based on 5 roles with salary data in both cities, San Francisco wins by 10% when adjusted for cost of living. See the role comparison table below for detailed breakdowns with links to full salary pages.
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