Cost of Living in Houston

Cost of Living in Houston:

Houston's cost of living rate is 12.9% lower than the national average. Bargain real estate prices and the low taxes allow living expenses to be lower than most major metropolitan areas.

Houston's grocery prices are also 25% lower than the national average.

Houston Real Estate Costs:

Here are the Houston real estate statistics that set us apart from other large metropolitan cities:

• The average price for a new single-family detached home of 2,400 square-feet (four bedrooms, two baths, living room, dining and family rooms and attached two-car garage) was $201,679 in the fourth quarter of 2005.
• The U.S, Bureau of Economic Analysis puts Houston pre-tax, per capital income in 2003 at $34,578, 9.9% above the national average.
• In the last quarter of 2005, Houston’s average apartment rent was $.828 per square foot per month.

Houston is Getting into Shape:

1. Houston is the home of more than 40 colleges, community colleges and institutes for seekers of higher education, accounting for nearly 250,000 students each year.
2. More than 500 city and county parks lie within the Houston.
3. Golf enthusiasts can choose from more than 125 golf courses in the Greater Houston area.
4. Bikers and hikers have approximately 140 miles of trails to roam.
5. There are more than 175 Houston-area gyms, health clubs and fitness centers to keep in shape.

Houston Housing Boom:

• Single-family home sales were up 10% from the same time period last year.
• Sales of homes valued over a million dollars were up 35%.
• Houston new home sales were up 9%.