Cost of Living Comparison between Carlsbad, CA vs Houston, TX

Houston, Texas going out to eat at a restaurant and buying food is considered to be affordable. Make sure you take this into account as you plan your overall cost of living in Houston, TX. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

If you love sports, you will love Houston, TX! Since there are baseball, basketball teams, you can go to a lot of games. Keep in mind that the tickets tend to be expensive, so you need to manage your entertainment budget carefully. Sometimes you can get discount tickets on line. Some people purchase a season ticket with a group of friends and take turns going to the games. Sports tickets can increase your cost of living in Houston, TX, but if you are a true sports fan it is worth it. In Houston, TX, the games are usually shown on local TV and you can host a party of friends and watch the game together. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

The average cost of internet access in the U.S. is $66.20 per month. There are many providers and various packages that are offered, many that bundle internet, cable, and phone together. Pricing for various packages can vary a lot even in the same location. You should evaluate the options based on your usage and preferences and pick the best fit for your needs. One tip to reduce this cost and your overall cost of living, is to get cable service from another source like Direct TV, Netflix, Sling, Amazon Prime or others. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Even if you are moving within your current state, the cost of moving could be over $1,000 depending on the city, what you are moving, and how much professional help you hire. You can save some expense by packing boxes yourself, renting a U-Haul truck, and asking friends and family to help with the loading and unloading. You should call at least three moving companies for a moving estimate, the cost might be less than you think and you won’t have to worry about a friend hurting their back trying to move your heavy furniture. Another way to make your move easier – and save money – is by weeding out items you don’t need anymore. Why bother to move stuff that you do not even use! Have a yard sale or find a local charitable organization and donate items you no longer use. Make sure you include these moving costs into the overall cost of living for year one in Houston, TX. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

The cost of electricity in Texas has gone up by 1.883% in the past year. It is possible that electric rates may fluctuate depending on consumption rates, government regulations and even the weather. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

The estimated average annual cost for child care in Houston, Texas (based on state average), is $8759. This cost is ranked NO. 31 nationally. Some employers have company provided day care centers that let you bring your child to work with you and receive care on site. Some colleges and universities with Childhood Education programs also may have day care centers available at reduced costs, so you should explore those possibilities to see if you can reduce your child care expense. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

In Houston,TX, my friend pays $1024 for a large 2 bedroom apartment. Since he has 2 children, he needs to have a large apartment. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Looks for areas of Houston, Texas where there is a large student population. In those areas you will be sure to find lots of free or cheap events to go to and plenty of cheap places to eat. Familiarize yourself with the places where students hang out, and take advantage of discounted or bargain prices, you are sure to be able to keep your cost of living reasonable. Look at the website for Houston, TX to find recommendations for activities that are available and unique to the area. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

The sales tax for Houston is 6.25%. This is the tax that you will pay on things that you buy. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

You are in luck! Houston, Texas is ranked NO. 23 in the U.S. for public transportation quality. Having a good public transit system to use will reduce travel expenses and your overall cost of living. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Overall, the time and ease of your driving times will impact your cost of living, since driving in heavy and slow moving traffic uses a lot of gas. Houston, Texas has an ease of driving ranking of 46 and is considered pretty good overall for commuters. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Getting to work is important. The weather, traffic, time of year, day of week and if there are accidents, can all impact your commute time. Hopefully you will have a smooth commute in Houston, Texas, but be prepared for delays. The time you spend commuting is time you do not have to do other things, so it is valuable. The average time for commuting in Houston is 42.21 minutes. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

The weather in Houston is ideal. Based on data collected by NOAA National Climatic Data Center, Houston is considered to have one of the most favorable climates in the country based on comfort and number of days with clear skies. You will enjoy living in Houston, Texas. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

The cost of a monthly transit pass in Houston, TX is around $65.00. Ask your employer if they offer discounted passes to save even more money and reduce your cost of commuting and overall Cost of Living (COL). ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )