Uprootmap
Tuscaloosa vs Houston
Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa to Houston
In 2022-2023, 32 households filed a move from Tuscaloosa to Houston (about 57 people, average adjusted gross income $50,875). 31 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $930 in Tuscaloosa and $1,188 in Houston. Tuscaloosa 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 84% in Tuscaloosa.
Houston averages 204 sunny days, with July highs around 94°F and January nights around 45°F. Tuscaloosa is 223 sunny days, 90°F in July, 38°F in January. Commutes average 29 minutes in Houston and 24 in Tuscaloosa.
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, 32 households moved Tuscaloosa → Houston (about 57 people, average AGI $50,875). 31 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 Tuscaloosa and Houston changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 599 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,200–$4,150
- Container or pod
- $1,550–$2,850
- Rent a truck
- $750–$1,400
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Dig into Houston
Questions
Is Houston cheaper than Tuscaloosa after tax and rent?
Yes. Houston leaves about $148 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $930 in Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa 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.