At 24.8 percent below the national urban average, Houston’s housing costs are the lowest among the most populous U.S. metros, according to the C2ER Q2 Cost of Living Index 2026. Furthermore, housing costs in Houston are 52.4 percent below the average of the most populous U.S. metros. (This housing index is based 70.9 percent on homeownership and 29.1 percent on rental occupancy).

Excluding the two most expensive housing markets—New York and San Francisco—which tend to skew the average, Houston’s housing costs are 43.2 percent below the major metro average.

Prepared by Greater Houston Partnership Research

Leta Wauson
Senior Director, Research
lwauson@houston.org