City Comparison · 2026
Houston vs Denver
Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared
Purchasing Power
$100k in Houston = $129k in Denver
Metric
Houston
Denver
COL Index
✓1.08
1.39
1BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,400/mo
$1,900/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,780/mo
$2,400/mo
State Income Tax
TX
CO
$100k Take-Home
✓$78,736
$74,336
$100k Effective Rate
✓21.26%
25.66%
$100k Savings Potential
✓$61,936
$51,536
After-Tax Income by Salary
| Gross Salary | Houston TX | Denver CO |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $50,248 $4,187/mo · 16.25% eff. | $47,608 $3,967/mo · 20.65% eff. |
| $100,000 | $78,736 $6,561/mo · 21.26% eff. | $74,336 $6,195/mo · 25.66% eff. |
| $150,000 | $113,278 $9,440/mo · 24.48% eff. | $106,678 $8,890/mo · 28.88% eff. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston or Denver cheaper to live in?
Houston has a cost-of-living index of 1.08 while Denver is 1.39 (1.00 = US average). Houston is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in Houston is $1,400/month vs $1,900/month in Denver.
How much more do you need to earn in Denver vs Houston?
$100k in Houston = $129k in Denver. Cost of living in Denver is higher by 28.7%.
Which city has better after-tax income — Houston or Denver?
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $78,736 in TX (Houston) and $74,336 in CO (Denver). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $61,936 in Houston vs $51,536 in Denver.
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