I moved to Houston in 2017 one month before hurricane Harvey. What a welcome and right away I learned things about the weather and the people instantly. In 2018 my spouse and I moved to Dallas and lived there for one year and moved back to the Houston area in 2019. We built a home here in Richmond, Texas near the Cinco Ranch area.

Today, I am going to share five reasons why I choose to relocate to Houston and why my spouse and I still call Houston home. 

1. Cost of Living in Houston

The cost of living in Houston is much lower than in other metropolitan cities in the US. Houston’s cost of living is 95.5 and is cheaper than the national average of cost living at 100. Also, Houston’s cost of living is lower than Austin and Dallas. So dollar does stretch a lot farther here in Houston, especially when buying a house. Houston is also 174% cheaper to live in than San Fransico and about 94% cheaper than New York City.

Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of the cost of living in Houston and in Texas.

Pros

• Texas has some of the lowest energy costs in the country.
• Texas has no state income tax so you get to keep more of your income.
• Houston’s daily living and food costs are lower than the national average.
• Houston gas prices are much lower than in most areas due to the gas and oil industry.
• Home prices in Houston are lower than the national average as of 2022.
• The national median home price was $428,700
• Houston’s median home price was $330,800

Cons

• Insurance for auto and home are much higher in Houston.
• Taxes such as sales tax and property are much higher here as well. Sales tax is over 8%.

2. Size & Population of Houston

Houston is currently the fourth largest city in the US based on population size. Texas holds 3 of the top 10 largest cities in the US. Those cities are Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas, Texas. The city of Houston has an estimated population of 2.29 million, and the Houston metropolitan area has an estimated population of 6.6 million.

The great thing about the size of Houston is that it allows us to have some great things to offer like top-notch healthcare. Houston has the largest medical center in the world. Houston also has 2 airports, George Bush Intercontinental Airpor located in North Houston, and William P. Hobby Airport located in South Houston.

With more Fortune 500 companies located in Houston than anywhere else, except New York City, Houston is a wellspring for high-paying, and highly-skilled, jobs. These jobs span high-demand sectors such as healthcare, education, aerospace, and energy.

Also, because of the size of the Houston metropolitan area, there are so many areas and suburbs to move to such as Cypress, Spring, Katy, Richmond, Fulshear, Pearland, Sugar Land, and much more. Houston truly does have an area fit for every type of walk of life and lifestyle.

3. People & Diversity in Houston

Houston gives you small-town community vibes with a big-city feel.

One of the biggest things that made us come back to Houston was the people. When I first moved here in 2017, the following month hurricane Harvey hit Houston hard and it was amazing to see how the people came together. #HoustonStrong was definitely real. Houston has really seen its hardships, but people came together and just helped each other rebuild and it was truly amazing to see.

One of the main reasons that I moved to Houston and why we moved back here after Dallas was the diversity in people. Houston is one of the most diverse places to live in the country, even more, diverse than New York City. Plus the people are so much more friendly here. By having such a diverse city, it will not take anyone long to find their tribe here in Houston.

One other thing to note about Houston’s diversity is that it is equally mixed throughout the city. In other bigger cities, I have always noticed that diversity was separated throughout the city, not in a bad way. For example, on one side you would have Chinatown, then on another side would be like little Havanah, but here in Houston, you can find it equally mixed throughout the entire Houston area.

4. Things to Do in Houston

Life in Houston is a unique blend of Texas traditions with a modern city feel.

What makes Houston an ideal place to live is because of its size there are so many places to go and things to see and do, many of which you won’t find in other cities.

Here are just a few things to do in Houston. 

• Museums
• Aquariums
• Zoos
• Galleria
• Space Center
• The Beach
• Theater District
• Sport Activities
• Houston Rodeo
• Astrodome
• Concerts
• Breweries
• Wineries
• Vibrant Nightlife

Houston weather is beautiful year-round and spending a day outside with a light jacket in the middle of January is not unusual.

Some outdoor activities include

• Dog Parks
• The Discovery Green
• Buffalo Bayou
• Outdoor Restaurants
• Exercise Activities
• Sport Events

Since I love to travel, One of my favorite things about Houston is that Houston is close to so many quick getaways. Houston is a great central location for travel.

Quick Getaways (Driving)

• Dallas Fort Worth
• Austin
• San Antonio
• Hill Country
• Corpus Christi
• New Orleans
• Lake Charles
• Baton Rouge
• Border of Mexico

Quick Getaways (Direct Flights)

• Pensacola Beach or Destin
• Ft. Lauderdale or Miami
• Las Vegas
• El Salvador
• Mexico (Cancun, Cabo, Mexico City)
• Puerto Rico
• Dominican Republic
• Chicago

5. Houston Food Scene

I saved the best for last, and that probably was the main reason that I moved to Houston and was the Houston food scene. I love to eat and cook so I had to pick a city that had a diverse food cuisine and Houston has some of the best cuisines in the country.

You will never get bored of the food here in Houston. Anthony Bourdain called Houston “A wonderland of strange and diverse.” Houston features so many ethnic cuisines and we have many James Beard award-winning chefs.

Another great thing is the food scene is not isolated. You do not have to go to one side for great Mexican food and the other for great Thai food. You can literally find almost any cuisine or food trucks that you want near you.

Some of the famous food in Houston and Texas are:

• Viet-Cajun Crawfish
• Barbecue
• Breakfast Tacos
• Chicken & Waffles
• Tamales
• Pho
• Kolaches
• And so much more.

If you love to cook, Houston has so many international food markets. Markets such as Asian, Indian, African, Hispanic, and so much more. We have so much food imported so you are getting the real deal. So no matter what ingredient you need to find, you can find it here in Houston.

Plus, Houston has the best grocery store in the nation, and that is HEB. It was literally rated the #1 grocery store in the country. If you know, you know.

Are you considering relocating to Houston?

If you have any questions about moving or relocating to the Houston area, please get in touch with us. We can definitely help you find the right place to live in the Houston area and make your transition smoother.

If you already live in the Houston area and need help with buying or selling a home, reach out to us and let us know how we can help you.

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up-to-date on all things Houston and real estate.

Download our FREE Houston Buyer's Guide

Book a consultation today!