What is the cost of living in Houston compared to the national average?

Houston's cost of living index is 101, which is 1% above the national average.

How much should I have saved for retirement by age 40?

Fidelity guideline: 3x salary by 40. At $80K: $240K by 40. Other rules: 1x by 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, 8x by 60, 10x at 67.

Am I saving enough for retirement?

Target saving 15% of gross income (including employer match). On $80K: $12,000/year. If behind, increase by 1% per year until at 15%.

How much money do I need to retire comfortably?

The 4% rule: you need 25x annual expenses. Spending $60K/year: $1.5M needed. For 30-year retirement with Social Security: often $800K-$1.2M for middle-income.

What is the best retirement calculator formula?

FV = PMT × ((1+r)^n - 1) / r × (1+r) + PV × (1+r)^n. Where PMT=monthly contribution, r=monthly return, n=months, PV=current balance.

When can I retire with $1 million?

At 4% withdrawal: $40K/year. With Social Security ($20K): $60K/year total. Comfortable for most if retiring at 65. Retiring at 55 with $1M: plan for 35 years, use 3% rate.

Retirement Savings Calculator for Houston, TX

Updated 2026 · Local data pre-filled

📍 Customized for Houston, Texas

The median household income in Houston is $67,800. With a cost of living index of 101, your retirement needs will be higher than average. Planners generally recommend saving 10–15% of income; at Houston's median income that's $8,136–$10,170 per year.

Median Home

$320k

Median Rent

$1,262/mo

Median Income

$68k/yr

Property Tax

1.90%

Cost of Living

101 / 100 avg

✓ Calculator below is pre-filled with Houston local data

FIRE Roadmap

Step 5 of 5 — Plan retirement savings

View all journeys

Project your growth Journey Complete!

Retirement Calculator — Are You on Track to Retire?

Project your retirement nest egg and monthly income in retirement.

No adsNo loginVerified formulaFree report

Enter Your Numbers

Current Age35yrs

Target Retirement Age65yrs

Current Retirement Savings

Monthly Contribution

Annual Employer Match

Expected Annual Return (%)7%

Your Results

Projected Retirement Balance: $2,194,700(positive trend)

In Today's Dollars: $904,187

Monthly Income (4%): $7,316/mo

Years to Grow: 30

What this means

Save Your Investment Plan

Email your personalized investment roadmap

Growth projections
Return estimates
Portfolio breakdown
Action items
Scenario comparisons
Instant delivery

No spam, ever. We only email you about topics you care about. Unsubscribe anytime.

Continue Your Journey

Roth vs Traditional IRA

Which IRA account is better for you at age undefined with $0/yr income?

Open Roth vs Traditional IRA with your numbers

How This Calculator Works

FV = PV×(1+r)^n + PMT×((1+r)^n-1)/r where r = monthly return, n = months, PV = current savings, PMT = monthly contribution. Monthly income = FV × 4% withdrawal rate / 12.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn More

Retirement Savings by Age: How Much You Need and How to Get There

9 min read

The 4% Rule Explained: How to Calculate Your Retirement Number

8 min read

Maximizing Your 401(k) and IRA: A Step-by-Step Guide to Retirement Accounts

9 min read

Related Calculators

FIRE Number Calculator

Calculate early retirement number

401k Contribution Calculator

Maximize 401k contributions

Roth vs Traditional IRA

Which IRA is better for retirement?

Calculations are for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified financial advisor for personalized advice.

How Houston Compares to the National Average

Understanding how Houston stacks up helps you calibrate your financial planning.

Metric	Houston, TX	US Average	Difference
Median Home Price	$320,000	$420,800	-24.0%
Median Monthly Rent	$1,262	$1,713	-26.3%
Median Household Income	$67,800	$74,580	-9.1%
Property Tax Rate	1.90%	1.10%	+72.7%
Cost of Living Index	101	100	+1.0%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, NAR (2024–2025). Green = favorable for residents; red = less favorable.

Houston Financial Snapshot

Population (Metro): 7,470,000
Unemployment: 4.2%
Avg Commute: 29 min
Median Age: 34.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio: 21.1x
Annual Property Tax: $6,080

← Retirement Savings Calculator (all states)← Retirement Savings Calculator for Texas

Retirement Savings Calculator in Other Texas Cities

Dallas San Antonio Austin Fort Worth El Paso Corpus Christi Laredo Lubbock

Frequently Asked Questions — Houston

What is the median home price in Houston, TX?

The median home price in Houston is $320,000 as of 2025–2026. This is below the national median of $420,800.

What is the average rent in Houston?

Median monthly rent in Houston is $1,262. That works out to $15,144/year, or 22% of the median household income — within the commonly recommended 30% of income guideline.

Is Houston affordable?

Houston's cost of living index is 101 vs. the national average of 100. With a median household income of $67,800/year and a median home price of $320,000, the price-to-income ratio is 4.7x. Houston falls in the middle of the affordability spectrum for US cities.

What is the property tax rate in Houston?

The effective property tax rate in Houston is 1.90% of assessed value. On the median home of $320,000, that's roughly $6,080/year ($507/month).