Cary vs Houston
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Cary
Houston
💡 The Verdict
Houston is 6% cheaper than Cary overall. A $75,000 salary in Cary is equivalent to $70,588 in Houston.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Cary (left) vs Houston (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Cary versus Houston. Differences shown from Cary perspective.
| Item | Cary | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,020/mo | $1,020/mo | $0.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,340/mo | $1,400/mo | $-60.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,790/mo | $1,920/mo | $-130.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.65 | $2.51 | +$0.14 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.62 | $3.58 | +$0.04 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $2.77 | $3.08 | $-0.31 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.88 | $5.55 | +$0.33 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.45 | $3.49 | $-0.04 |
| Restaurant Meal | $16.45 | $13.18 | +$3.27 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Cary has the same purchasing power as $70,588 in Houston.
Conversely, $75,000 in Houston equals $79,688 in Cary.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $3451 difference is driven by North Carolina having a higher state income tax rate. North Carolina details → · Texas details →
Reading These Numbers: Cary (102) vs Houston (96)
Cary at 102 is 2% above the US average, while Houston at 96 is 4% below average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Cary, the composite index of 102 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 104, followed by groceries (96), utilities (92), transportation (106), and healthcare (94). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,340/mo in Cary and $1,400/mo in Houston, the annual rent difference is approximately $720.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $3,600.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $68,000.0 difference in median home prices between Cary and Houston translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Cary vs Houston
Choosing between Cary and Houston involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
When weighing Cary against Houston, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.