Uprootmap
Odessa vs Houston
Odessa and Houston
Photo: Marc Mongenet / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
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 Odessa to Houston
In 2022-2023, 112 households filed a move from Odessa to Houston (about 212 people, average adjusted gross income $70,634). 119 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,178 in Odessa and $1,188 in Houston. Odessa has no 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 99% in Odessa.
Houston averages 204 sunny days, with July highs around 94°F and January nights around 45°F. Odessa is 269 sunny days, 97°F in July, 35°F in January. Commutes average 29 minutes in Houston and 25 in Odessa.
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.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 112 households moved Odessa → Houston (about 212 people, average AGI $70,634). 119 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 Odessa and Houston changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 540 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,150–$4,000
- Container or pod
- $1,450–$2,750
- Rent a truck
- $700–$1,300
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Dig into Houston
Questions
Is Houston cheaper than Odessa after tax and rent?
No. Houston leaves about $76 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,178 in Odessa 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 Odessa 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.