Houston - TX vs Tampa - FL: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Tampa - FL is roughly 18% more expensive than Houston - TX in typical home value.

Houston vs Tampa: what the numbers say

At today's 7.24% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $1,651 a month in principal and interest in Houston and $1,946 in Tampa, a gap of $294 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,638 in Houston and $1,991 in Tampa, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.0 times rent in Houston and 1.0 times rent in Tampa, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 15.4 years of rent in Houston and 14.9 in Tampa; the lower ratio in Tampa means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -3.8% in Houston and -6.8% in Tampa; over just the last three months the change was -0.4% in Houston and -0.0% in Tampa.

Homes sell for 97.3% of list price in Houston and 97.0% in Tampa, after 45 and 41 days on the market, with price cuts on 29% and 31% of listings. The signs are mixed: Houston has longer time on the market, while Tampa has more price cuts and sales further below list.

The number of homes for sale is up 3% on a year ago in Houston and down 7% on a year ago in Tampa.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-29), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.