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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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Iowa CityvsHouston

Moving from Iowa City to Houston will save you approximately $48,406 on median home prices (11.4% less). Monthly rent is $202 cheaper in Houston. Note that median income is 11.4% lower in Houston.

Housing
11.4% cheaper
Rent
11.4% cheaper
View Iowa CityView Houston
Houston

Side-by-Side Comparison

Origin

Iowa City, IA

Median Home Price$423,561
Monthly Rent$1,765
Median Income$74,522
Population74,227
Destination

Houston, TX

Median Home Price
$375,155-11.4%
Monthly Rent
$1,563-11.4%
Median Income
$66,050-11.4%
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.

Iowa City

2015N/A
2020$1,407
2025$1,765

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.

Iowa City

Housing$7,029
Food$5,574
Transport$13,411
Healthcare$9,747
Total$45,878

Houston

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

Key Insights

11.4%
Housing Cost
cheaper in Houston
$202
Monthly Rent Difference
savings per month
11.4%
Income Level
lower median income

Demographics

Iowa City

Population74,227
Median Age25.5 yrs
Violent Crime Rate295 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1508 per 100k

Houston

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

Safety & Crime Statistics

Iowa City

295
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1508
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 Iowa City?

Houston is 11.4% cheaper for housing than Iowa City. The median home price in Houston is $375,155 compared to $423,561 in Iowa City, a savings of $48,406.

What is the rent difference between Iowa City and Houston?

Monthly rent in Houston averages $1,563, while Iowa City averages $1,765. That's a savings of $202 per month, or $2,420 annually.

How do incomes compare between Iowa City and Houston?

The median household income in Houston is $66,050, which is 11.4% lower than Iowa City's median of $74,522.

Which city is safer: Iowa City or Houston?

Iowa City has a violent crime rate of 295 per 100k residents, while Houston has 453 per 100k. Iowa City 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.