texans come in :)

MouseInLux

We're Visiting a friend who may move to Huston soon, she's asking about cost of living, any idea what a month's expenses would be? Oh and anyone who can help with general moving to USA 101. They'll be there for 3 years.

MrsBini10

Presumably one of them has a job lined up? Make sure they ask about health insurance.  Europeans sometimes don't realize that there is absolutely NO public health coverage for most people in most situations here.  They will want to make sure they are covered from the moment they land in the US and if they won't be they should arrange some sort of travel insurance that will cover them until they get it set up, just in case.

 I've never been to Houston so I can't help there, but from what I have heard Texas has a relatively low COL even in the cities, compared to other metro areas like NYC, Boston, San Francisco, etc.

neeps

Living in Houston will require a car - probably two. If they're used to public transport - they're isn't any in Houston so that will be a change.

What their monthly bills are really depends on where they live. Buying a house? Renting a house? Renting a flat? Inside the loop? (more expensive than the 'burbs)

Bills they're likely to have: car insurance, gas (for the cars), electric, gas (for the house), water, trash, rent/mortgage, internet, phone, cable, property taxes (if they buy a house), groceries. I think a reasonable budget would be ~ $1,000 on rent and $1,000-$1,500 on the rest; depending on what lifestyle they like (i.e. the super cable package or no cable, etc), it could be more. Also some bills are sky high in summer - the electric because of the A/C but they're almost non-existent in winter.

ya know I have an empty, furnished house and two cars in Houston...just sayin' 

MouseInLux

neeps:

Living in Houston will require a car - probably two. If they're used to public transport - they're isn't any in Houston so that will be a change.

What their monthly bills are really depends on where they live. Buying a house? Renting a house? Renting a flat? Inside the loop? (more expensive than the 'burbs)

Bills they're likely to have: car insurance, gas (for the cars), electric, gas (for the house), water, trash, rent/mortgage, internet, phone, cable, property taxes (if they buy a house), groceries. I think a reasonable budget would be ~ $1,000 on rent and $1,000-$1,500 on the rest; depending on what lifestyle they like (i.e. the super cable package or no cable, etc), it could be more. Also some bills are sky high in summer - the electric because of the A/C but they're almost non-existent in winter.

ya know I have an empty, furnished house and two cars in Houston...just sayin'

Neeos thanks, thats great info! She wants to live out of the loop Her BF, soon to be DH is the one with the job, she wants to SAH to be able to travel and work on her English Oh and I've told her about health insurance

gblake

If she wants to live outside of the loop I would recommend Katy or Richmond. Katy is essentially one big suburb, but everything is there. Neeps pretty much hit the nail on the head with the budget. I can't really add much more. If I think of anything else I'll come back and add it.

gblake

Tolls and a toll tag is an expense they'll have.