A Week in Houston, TX, on a $74,000 Salary

Houston, TX is a thriving metropolitan area. The fourth-largest city in the U.S. has a healthy job market and a great offering of recreation and nightlife. It’s also an inexpensive city to live in compared to other major cities. Houston has a neighborhood for every lifestyle from cultural and urban living to artistic and tranquil living. Take a look at some of the reasons Houston is a desirable city to live, work, and enjoy.

Recommended Living Wage

In 2019, the average household income was $52,338 annually. You can live comfortably in a one-bedroom house in Houston on a $34,956 salary. You’ll need to earn $41,548 annually to live comfortably in a two-bedroom apartment. You’ll also have to consider your expenses of dining out, entertainment, savings, utilities, or taxes.

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Housing Costs

Houston has a lower cost of living than the national average. The median rent for a one-bedroom home is $971 and $1,155 for a two-bedroom home. The pandemic has led to a drop in real estate prices, with the average single-family home selling for $395,316. The neighborhood you choose will affect home prices. Purchasing a condo or townhouse in downtown Houston will cost more than a home outside the city.

The lower the purchase price of your new home, the larger your remodel project budget will be. The kitchen and the bathroom are the two most popular rooms for renovations because they offer homeowners the best return on investment. The remodeling process can be long, messy, and costly if you don’t have the help of a professional contractor. Working with a contractor to build the bathroom of your dreams ensures you have a great remodeling experience.

Statewide Remodeling has years of experience creating custom bathroom designs for bathroom remodel projects of all sizes. Their Houston bathroom remodel services include painting, custom cabinets, countertops, tub to shower conversions, and bathtub installation. You can explore their online showroom to see how a new sink and vanity, updated fixtures, fresh tiles, and durable marble countertops can transform a drab bathroom into a new bathroom.

Food Costs

Houston is a foodie paradise. The average single adult with a full-time job spends approximately $3,000 annually on food costs. Food prices do vary between the city and suburban grocery stores. Downtown Houston doesn’t have many large grocery stores, which means you’ll spend more. You can enjoy a quality meal at an inexpensive restaurant for $15. Expect to pay around $50 at a mid-range restaurant for two people.

Fitness and Entertainment

Houston boasts a mild climate from the fall through the spring, making it a great place to enjoy the outdoors. There are plenty of places to bike, jog, and enjoy outdoor fitness. Houston is a big cultural town that is perfect for museum lovers. The city is full of free attractions such as outdoor theater performances, movies, and music in the summer months. There is no shortage of green space to enjoy picnics in the park, fitness, golfing, and dog parks.

Houston offers something for everyone, and best of all, it’s an affordable place to live, work, and play.