Example household · Alexandria, LA · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Houston skyline

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Alexandria vs Houston

Alexandria and Houston

Photo: Marc Mongenet / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Houston are above the US rate in this release, 8.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Alexandria to Houston

In 2022-2023, 111 households filed a move from Alexandria to Houston (about 203 people, average adjusted gross income $36,802). 97 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $803 in Alexandria and $1,188 in Houston. Alexandria has a state tax on wages. Houston has no state tax on wages. Local pay in Houston is 102% of the national level for the same work, against 86% in Alexandria.

Houston averages 204 sunny days, with July highs around 94°F and January nights around 45°F. Alexandria is 226 sunny days, 91°F in July, 44°F in January. Commutes average 29 minutes in Houston and 24 in Alexandria.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 111 households moved Alexandria → Houston (about 203 people, average AGI $36,802). 97 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Alexandria and Houston changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 236 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,800–$3,350
Container or pod
$1,200–$2,250
Rent a truck
$500–$900

Movers in Houston and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Houston cheaper than Alexandria after tax and rent?

No. Houston leaves about $313 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $803 in Alexandria and $1,188 in Houston.

Does Houston have state income tax?

Houston is in Texas, which has no state income tax.

Did people actually move from Alexandria to Houston?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.