Question 1

Is Arlington or Houston cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Houston, TX is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $231/month less than in Arlington, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,723/mo in Arlington versus $1,573/mo in Houston.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Arlington vs Houston?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $75,500/year before tax in Arlington, TX and $70,500/year in Houston, TX — a difference of about $5,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Arlington or Houston cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Houston, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $10,055/month in Arlington and $9,579/month in Houston, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Arlington or Houston?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Houston costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Arlington71	Houston57
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,277	$4,046
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$10,055	$9,579
Salary for comfort	$75,500/yr	$70,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,723	$1,573
Median home value	$276,400	$253,400
Median household income	$73,519	$62,894
Unemployment	4.7%	5.2%
Housing score	57	50
Jobs score	51	36
Safety score	65	4
Climate score	94	100
Amenities score	73	69
Population	394.8K	2.3M
Summer high / winter low	95° / 36°	92° / 45°

Arlington, TX vs Houston, TX