Enjoyable, Affordable, and Convenient: How to Find Your Sweet Spot in Greater Houston

If you look up "cost of living in Houston", most sites will tell you Houston's cost of living is about 5% cheaper than the national average. However, what you won't see is that the greater Houston area is over 670 square miles, and the cost of housing, utilities, transportation, groceries, and daily living varies a lot depending on where you live and work. My name is Lori, and as your ApartmentHomeLiving.com expert for the Houston area, I'm going to break down some of these costs so you know what to expect if you decide to study, work, or raise a family in the greater Houston area.

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in the Houston Area

Housing

There are plenty of neighborhoods in which you can find very cheap Houston apartments. What's more, lots of these are ideally located for anyone who needs to travel to and from Downtown Houston for work or study purposes. But like the old saying goes, "you get what you pay for." Unfortunately, some of the cheapest neighborhoods in Houston are also the most dangerous. I've driven through a few at night, and trust me, I was scared. From scattered garbage to homeless people shuffling around to young, bored-looking men hanging around at a gas station, you won't feel safe. Most neighborhoods around Northeast and Southeast Houston get a bad rap for safety, as do many north-west neighborhoods around Beltway 8.

However, that doesn't mean you have to choose between safety and affordability. There are plenty of mid-range neighborhoods that are safe, convenient, and affordable. Kingwood is a top favorite spot of mine; there's plenty to do, great parks, and it's fairly close to downtown Houston. As an added bonus, it's very pedestrian-friendly; in many neighborhoods, you can reach a local supermarket, grocery store, or even the library on foot (just don't try it in the middle of summer). Roman Forest has some good deals; it's a bit farther from downtown but ideal if you work or study in the Woodlands but don't have enough money to rent a place there. There's not much to do in town, but there are literally unlimited amenities at the Valley Ranch Town Center, which is just a 10 to 15-minute drive south. Summerwood and Atascocita are two other safe yet affordable neighborhoods not too far from Houston, although the latter has, by far, the most local amenities.

Utilities

There are suburbs in Houston with slightly lower electric bills than others. Pearland, Deer Park, Conroe, and Tomball have cheaper electricity than just about any other city or suburb in the Lone Star State. They're "deregulated", which means you can choose your electricity provider, and the more competition there is, the better your prices could be. However, you may be better off long-term picking a "regulated" neighborhood (there's plenty of them far north and east of downtown Houston) that gets its electricity from Entergy. Why? Because all "deregulated" cities get their power from a single provider, CenterPoint, and CenterPoint has a bad reputation for unstable power supply and repairs after natural disasters.

As for water, prices are unfortunately shooting through the roof no matter where you live. In fact, a friend of mine who lives in a very affordable neighborhood at the northernmost edge of the Greater Houston area recently told me her water bill was skyrocketing. One of the main reasons for this is that the city of Houston is upping the prices to cover the cost of repairing the city's sewage system. Plus, each district ups the price per gallon if you use more than a certain amount. In Houston, the per-gallon rate rises exponentially if you use more than 5,000 gallons a month. In New Caney, on the other hand, the price goes up if you use more than 3,000 gallons per month, and then shoots up even further if you use more than 4,000 gallons a month. If you rent an apartment in a suburb outside of Houston's city limits, ask about the local rates to avoid a nasty surprise when the bill comes in.

As for trash pick-up, it's usually between $5 and $25 if you live in Houston's city limits. The charge shows up on your water bill. If you live in a suburban area, the trash company charges either a "per bin" or "per pickup" price. If you rent an apartment that doesn't cover utilities (and you should if you want to save money), ask your landlord which trash companies service your area. As for internet, local providers are actively expanding services, so there are always plenty to pick from no matter where you live. Most offer discounted "starting rates", usually between $25 and $40, and some will even throw in a free phone to sweeten the deal. However, you'll want to make sure you know how much the regular rate will be once your discount period is up.

Transportation

 The great news is that gas here costs less than it does in just about any other state. However, if you want the best prices, head out of Houston into the suburbs. I've personally found the best deals on gas in Humble, Porter, New Caney, and The Woodlands. In my experience, the large grocery stores with their own gas stations (such as Wal-Mart and HEB) tend to offer the best prices. However, you can sometimes find small stations that will offer great deals too. Once you've settled in and driven around a bit, you'll see which stations have better prices than others. Always pay cash if you want the best rate; it's anywhere from 10 to 20 cents cheaper per gallon.  

The bad news is that anyone who doesn't live in Houston's city limits can't count on public transportation. Outside the Beltway 8, options are limited. There is some public transportation available in southern neighborhoods such as Sugar Land and Friendswood, but to the north, you'll find that you're on your own. Plus, you'll find out pretty fast that finding a parking spot in certain parts of downtown Houston is either expensive or impossible. Keep that in mind if you plan to work or live downtown; you might want to spend a little extra on rent and enjoy being able to walk to and from work or class. As an added bonus, pedestrians miss out on the horrific traffic jams downtown Houston is famous for.

Groceries

Groceries in Houston cost slightly more than they do in many other large cities; however, prices are a bit lower in Houston than they are in other large cities in Texas. However, once you're in the greater Houston area, it doesn't really matter where you live if you're looking for affordable staples and produce, as grocery prices aren't neighborhood-specific. At the same time, people who live close to multiple grocery stores with low prices are more likely to find good deals than those who live in areas with few grocery supermarket shopping options.

Personally, some of my favorite grocery stores to shop at are Aldi, Wal-Mart, and Food Town. Each one has good prices on certain foods and beverages that I buy on a regular basis. Naturally, the stores that are the most affordable for you will depend on what you like to eat and drink; be sure to take a look at all the local options to find what works well for you. Kroger isn't cheap, but it's known for having great coupons. HEB frequently has some good deals, especially on items that you can't find at smaller grocery stores. If you happen to live near New Caney, the Grocery Warehouse is a hidden gem you won't want to miss. This small outlet specializes in selling slightly damaged, expired/almost expired goods at prices far lower than you'll see anywhere else.

Daily Living

Houston is home to the largest medical center in the nation. It's internationally renowned and thousands of people come here from all over the world to get top-tier care and treatment. There are also emergency care centers dotted throughout town and suburban areas, but I've had lousy experiences at a couple of providers and prefer to steer clear of them entirely. Unfortunately, health and dental care costs aren't reasonable. Even the cost of a routine dental visit and cleaning is on the up and up, and doctor costs are trending upward too. The good news is that, if you live in the Harris County area (which encompasses most of the Greater Houston area), the county offers financial help for health insurance via its Harris Health System Financial Assistance Program. Montgomery County (which covers cities on the northern rim of Greater Houston) has a similar program, called HCAP, but you have to show you have a medical need before you apply.

As for clothes, accessories, furniture, and hobby supplies, I highly recommend local garage and community sales. There's no shortage of them no matter where you live in the Greater Houston area. Wal-Mart has rock-bottom prices on many great clothing items if you stop by at the end-of-season sales, and Aldi's so-called "Aisle of Shame" is another good place to get good deals on shoes, clothes, toys, and accessories. Goodwill prices have gone up a lot, but small "mom and pop" thrift stores have great deals. The Village Thrift Shop in Kingwood is a great spot, as are the AABY Foundation thrift shop and New Horizons thrift shop in New Caney. Habitat for Humanity's ReStore in the Woodlands is full of everything you need to furnish and decorate an apartment; I have friends who have gotten some amazing deals there.

As for eating out, it's never been particularly cheap, and prices are steadily climbing upwards. However, you can still get great food out at a decent price if you know where to look. The Super Pollo Food Truck on the corner of Loop 494 and FM1485 in New Caney is one of our family's favorites. Kingwood's weekly farmer's market has some amazing food vendors that offer unforgettable meals and treats at very reasonable prices. From potato pancakes to dumplings, you'll find a huge range of cuisines and dishes. Plus, Kingwood isn't the only Houston suburb you can hit up for amazing food. Many neighborhoods have their own farmer's markets that are well-worth repeated visits. New Caney has one twice a month (first and third Sundays), as does Sugar Land (first and third Saturdays). The Urban Harvest farmer's market near Houston's Medical District is open for business every Saturday and even has free parking.

If you're looking for fun things to do or see, Tuesday is the best day to catch a cheap movie at a local movie theater. Better yet, you can see one out at a park for free if you know when and where to go. "Screen on the Green" at Houston's Discovery Green shows free monthly movies, and some parks in Houston's suburban areas show occasional free flicks as well. Local festivals and happenings abound in the heart of the city. Parks are almost everywhere in Greater Houston, and a walk with a friend costs nothing. The beaches are great, but best enjoyed before the summer heat hits in full force. Local libraries have tons of programs for adults, ranging from free cooking classes to book clubs to relaxed crafting sessions. You just have to sign up in advance.

The great thing about living in Houston is that, no matter what type of lifestyle you're looking for, you're able to find it. Luxurious neighborhoods aren't hard to find if that's your price range. If you don't have unlimited finances but want to enjoy life in addition to working and/or studying, there are plenty of ways to do so if you know where to look. Just make sure you balance finances with safety and convenience so you're saving money on all your expenses, not just some.