Houston - TX vs San Diego - CA: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

San Diego - CA is roughly 206% more expensive than Houston - TX in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Houston - TX (45 days vs 25), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

Houston vs San Diego: what the numbers say

At today's 7.40% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $1,677 a month in principal and interest in Houston and $5,134 in San Diego, a gap of $3,457 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,638 in Houston and $2,967 in San Diego, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.0 times rent in Houston and 1.7 times rent in San Diego, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 15.4 years of rent in Houston and 26.0 in San Diego; the lower ratio in Houston means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -3.8% in Houston and -1.8% in San Diego; over just the last three months the change was -0.4% in Houston and +0.3% in San Diego.

Homes sell for 97.3% of list price in Houston and 99.3% in San Diego, after 45 and 25 days on the market, with price cuts on 29% and 29% of listings. All three signs point the same way: buyers have more room to negotiate in Houston.

The number of homes for sale is up 3% on a year ago in Houston and down 6% on a year ago in San Diego.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-15), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.