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The most comprehensive cost of living comparison tool for US cities. Make informed relocation decisions with real data from trusted sources.

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Data: Zillow • Census • FBI • NOAA • BLS

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ColumbiavsHouston

Moving from Columbia to Houston will save you approximately $145,602 on median home prices (28.0% less). Monthly rent is $607 cheaper in Houston. Note that median income is 31.3% lower in Houston.

Housing
28.0% cheaper
Rent
28.0% cheaper
View ColumbiaView Houston
Houston

Side-by-Side Comparison

Origin

Columbia, MD

Median Home Price$520,757
Monthly Rent$2,170
Median Income$96,138
Population103,467
Destination

Houston, TX

Median Home Price
$375,155-28.0%
Monthly Rent
$1,563-28.0%
Median Income
$66,050-31.3%
Population2,298,628
Housing

Rent History & Trends

Understanding how rental prices have changed over time helps predict future affordability and make informed decisions about your move.

Columbia

2015$1,593
2020$1,750
2025$2,170

Houston

2015$1,208
2020$1,301
2025$1,563

Annual Cost of Living

A comprehensive breakdown of annual living expenses helps you budget effectively for your new life in Houston.

Columbia

Housing$12,376
Food$6,344
Transport$13,060
Healthcare$7,146
Total$50,738

Houston

Housing$8,287
Food$5,434
Transport$13,321
Healthcare$10,777
Total$43,458
Costs

Key Insights

28.0%
Housing Cost
cheaper in Houston
$607
Monthly Rent Difference
savings per month
31.3%
Income Level
lower median income

Demographics

Columbia

Population103,467
Median Age37.9 yrs
Violent Crime Rate435 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1522 per 100k

Houston

Population2,298,628
Median Age32.6 yrs
Violent Crime Rate453 per 100k
Property Crime Rate2172 per 100k

Safety & Crime Statistics

Columbia

435
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1522
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

Houston

453
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
2172
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Columbia?

Houston is 28.0% cheaper for housing than Columbia. The median home price in Houston is $375,155 compared to $520,757 in Columbia, a savings of $145,602.

What is the rent difference between Columbia and Houston?

Monthly rent in Houston averages $1,563, while Columbia averages $2,170. That's a savings of $607 per month, or $7,280 annually.

How do incomes compare between Columbia and Houston?

The median household income in Houston is $66,050, which is 31.3% lower than Columbia's median of $96,138.

Which city is safer: Columbia or Houston?

Columbia has a violent crime rate of 435 per 100k residents, while Houston has 453 per 100k. Columbia is statistically safer.

What is Estates?

Estates is a comprehensive cost of living comparison platform covering over 3,900 US cities. We help you compare housing prices, rent, income levels, crime rates, demographics, and climate data to make informed relocation decisions. Our data comes from trusted sources including Zillow, the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, and NOAA.