$100k salary, packing up from Chicago
changea dispatch from
houston
TX
29.76°N
95.37°W
Houston has no zoning laws (you'll see a taco truck next to a mansion next to a strip mall), the most diverse food scene in America by most rankings, and NASA's mission control out on the edge of town. The Texas Medical Center is the largest in the world. It's sprawling and culturally enormous, with a Vietnamese pho district, Nigerian jollof spots, and a Tex-Mex scene that takes itself seriously. Bigger than you think, in every direction.
in our guides
the verdict
under Chicago, every month
In Houston, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
a quick ledger.
$1,610/mo
26% cheaper than Chicago(vs $2,170/mo)
0%
$412/mo less in state tax than Chicago
vs 4.95% in Chicago
$6,723/mo
$972 more than Chicago
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$311k
15% cheaper than Chicago
vs $365k in Chicago
7.5M
vs 9.3M in Chicago
field notes, weather & such.
171
pleasant days a year, in houston.
Chicago only logs 153 pleasant days. Summer asks for something in return: 54 days top 95° here, 1 in Chicago.
Noticeably quieter than Chicago. About 84% fewer events on a typical month.
55/100
21% lower than Chicago
vs 70/100 in Chicago
Closest outdoor draw: Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center, 14.6 mi.
77/100
23% lower than Chicago
vs 100/100 in Chicago
176
19% fewer than Chicago
vs 217 nonstops in Chicago
cities that play in houston's register:
compare houston with:
