City Comparison

Huntsville vs Sugar Land

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Huntsville

Alabama
91
Below Average
$260,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$56,098
Median Income

Sugar Land

Texas
110
Above Average
$456,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$128,400
Median Income

The Verdict

17.3%

Living in Huntsville costs 17.3% less than Sugar Land. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Huntsville, you would need $90,659 in Sugar Land.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
79
Huntsville
128
Sugar Land
Groceries
96
Huntsville
99
Sugar Land
Utilities
91
Huntsville
96
Sugar Land
Transportation
98
Huntsville
101
Sugar Land
Healthcare
93
Huntsville
96
Sugar Land

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Huntsville has the same purchasing power as $90,659 in Sugar Land.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $62,045 in Huntsville.

Living in Huntsville vs Sugar Land

Housing Costs

Huntsville's housing index of 79 is lower Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $260,000 vs $456,000. The $196,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,744 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Huntsville compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Huntsville and 99 in Sugar Land. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Huntsville vs $470/month in Sugar Land. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 91 in Huntsville and 96 in Sugar Land. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Huntsville vs $384 in Sugar Land. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 93 in Huntsville and 96 in Sugar Land. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $56,098 in Huntsville and $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,646 and $116,727 respectively. Sugar Land residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,309/month to housing in Huntsville vs $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Huntsville, median rent of $1,200/mo fits within this budget. In Sugar Land, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 49 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Huntsville is 17.3% more affordable overall with an index of 91 vs 110.
A $75,000 salary in Huntsville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $90,659 in Sugar Land, based on the cost of living difference.
Huntsville's housing index is 79 with median homes at $260,000, while Sugar Land's is 128 with median homes at $456,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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