Houston vs Miami: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Median home value runs $235,000 in Houston, 46% lower than the $433,900 median in Miami.

On median household income, Houston posts $60,440 while Miami posts $54,858.

On median rent, Houston runs $1,235 while Miami runs $1,494.

On climate risk, the two cities are evenly matched — both rated "Very High" by FEMA.

Metric	Houston, TX	Miami, FL
Population	2,296,253	443,665
Median home value	$235,000	$433,900
Median household income	$60,440	$54,858
Median gross rent	$1,235	$1,494
Climate risk (FEMA)	Very High	Very High

Housing is cheaper across the board in Houston, TX compared with Miami, FL: lower home values, lower rent. Other cost-of-living factors aren't reflected here.

Moving between Houston and Miami

Houston and Miami are 968 miles apart in a straight line.

What changes when you move	Houston → Miami	Miami → Houston
Median rent	+$259/mo (+21%)	−$259/mo (−17%)
Median home value	+$198,900 (+85%)	−$198,900 (−46%)
Median household income	−$5,582 (−9%)	+$5,582 (+10%)

Estimated moving cost (either direction)

Home size	Estimated cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	$1,385 – $2,195
2-3 bedroom	$3,266 – $5,122
4+ bedroom house	$5,528 – $8,629

Estimates based on typical per-mile and per-room moving-industry rates; actual quotes vary by mover, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Houston, TX Miami, FL

1,113 miles estimated driving distance · 18.6 hours of highway driving

DIY Truck Rental

$1,490 – $1,899

Includes an estimated $390 in fuel (111 gal at ~10 mpg) over 3 driving days.

Professional Movers

$5,422 – $9,955

Full-service crew, loading and unloading included.

Estimates based on typical rental-truck, fuel, and professional-mover industry rates; actual quotes vary by carrier, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; FEMA National Risk Index

Data last updated July 2026.