Paycheck calculator › After taxes and rent › Houston
Take-home pay after taxes and rent in Houston (2026)
A typical one-bedroom in Houston rents for $1,323 a month (HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent). On a $75,000 salary the take-home is $5,133 a month, which leaves $3,810 after rent — rent takes 25.8% of take-home (within the 30% guideline). To keep a one-bedroom at 30% of take-home you need to earn about $63,149 a year in Houston; a two-bedroom ($1,573) needs $76,887. The calculator is in reverse mode with that target.
Your pay
Take-home pay
| Line | A | B | Difference |
|---|
| Line | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $5,262 | $63,149 |
| Federal income tax | −$450 | −$5,398 |
| Taxable income $47,049 = wages $63,149 − standard deduction $16,100, through the 2026 brackets (10%/12%/22%/24%/32%/35%/37%). | ||
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$326 | −$3,915 |
| 6.2% of $63,149. | ||
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$76 | −$916 |
| 1.45% of $63,149. | ||
| Texas state income tax (none) | −$0 | −$0 |
| Texas has no state income tax on wages. | ||
| Take-home pay | $4,410 | $52,920 |
What is left after rent in Houston, by salary
| Salary | Take-home / mo | After studio ($1,280) | After 1-bed ($1,323) | After 2-bed ($1,573) | 1-bed share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,860 | $1,580 | $1,537 | $1,287 | 46.3% |
| $50,000 | $3,530 | $2,250 | $2,207 | $1,957 | 37.5% |
| $60,000 | $4,199 | $2,919 | $2,876 | $2,626 | 31.5% |
| $70,000 | $4,840 | $3,560 | $3,517 | $3,267 | 27.3% |
| $75,000 | $5,133 | $3,853 | $3,810 | $3,560 | 25.8% |
| $80,000 | $5,426 | $4,146 | $4,103 | $3,853 | 24.4% |
| $90,000 | $6,012 | $4,732 | $4,689 | $4,439 | 22.0% |
| $100,000 | $6,598 | $5,318 | $5,275 | $5,025 | 20.1% |
| $120,000 | $7,771 | $6,491 | $6,448 | $6,198 | 17.0% |
| $150,000 | $9,483 | $8,203 | $8,160 | $7,910 | 14.0% |
Rents are HUD Fair Market Rents for FY2026 (the 40th-percentile gross rent, utilities included, for the metro area — a modest, typical unit, not a luxury one). Take-home is for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions, 2026 tables, city tax where it applies. The 30% rule compares rent with take-home pay, not gross.
Salary needed to afford rent in Houston
| Unit | HUD FMR / mo | Take-home needed / mo | Salary needed / yr | Hourly (40 h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,280 | $4,267 | — | — |
| One bedroom | $1,323 | $4,410 | $63,149 | $30.36 |
| Two bedrooms | $1,573 | $5,243 | $76,887 | $36.96 |
| Three bedrooms | $2,116 | $7,053 | — | — |
Houston paycheck calculator · All cities after rent
Frequently asked
How much do I need to make to live in Houston?
About $63,149 a year for a one-bedroom at 30% of take-home ($76,887 for a two-bedroom), before other costs. HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a one-bedroom is $1,323.
Is $75,000 enough to live in Houston?
After taxes it is $5,133 a month; a typical one-bedroom leaves $3,810 for everything else, so rent is 25.8% of take-home.
Where do the rents come from?
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026: the 40th-percentile gross rent (with utilities) for the metro area, published yearly and refreshed here automatically every October.