Denton vs Houston
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Denton
Houston
💡 The Verdict
Houston is 8% cheaper than Denton overall. A $75,000 salary in Denton is equivalent to $69,231 in Houston.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Denton (left) vs Houston (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Denton versus Houston. Differences shown from Denton perspective.
| Item | Denton | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $920/mo | $1,020/mo | $-100.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,320/mo | $1,400/mo | $-80.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,760/mo | $1,920/mo | $-160.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.89 | $2.51 | +$0.38 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.98 | $3.58 | +$0.40 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.40 | $3.08 | +$0.32 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.88 | $5.55 | +$0.33 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.26 | $3.49 | $-0.23 |
| Restaurant Meal | $16.84 | $13.18 | +$3.66 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Denton has the same purchasing power as $69,231 in Houston.
Conversely, $75,000 in Houston equals $81,250 in Denton.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
Both states have similar effective tax rates on this salary level. Texas details → · Texas details →
Reading These Numbers: Denton (104) vs Houston (96)
Denton at 104 is 4% above the US average, while Houston at 96 is 4% below average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Denton, the composite index of 104 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 99, followed by groceries (106), utilities (100), transportation (108), and healthcare (101). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,320/mo in Denton and $1,400/mo in Houston, the annual rent difference is approximately $960.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $4,800.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $64,000.0 difference in median home prices between Denton 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: Denton vs Houston
Choosing between Denton 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.
The cost gap between Denton and Houston reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.