IMO: I don’t think Houston is affordable anymore

I understand not everyone will agree and some may even say, “well go somewhere else/compare it to other cities.” That’s fine; I just need to vent for a bit.

I’ve lived in Houston my entire life, with the exception of a small city I lived in for school. I’ve always been able to find good work/companies, which is why I moved back and stayed put. I tried applying for jobs in other cities, but Houston was the only city who called me back for interviews and a chance for me to build my experience up.

Anyway, I currently live in the heart of the city and I’ve been able to enjoy cheap rent for the most part since I’ve been grandfathered in but this year my apt management raised the rent to a price that I just could not fathom, so I went on the hunt. My goodness, I was shocked! As a single early-30’s Houstonian, living inside the loop is a must for me. The VERY VERY bare bones 600 SF units want $1,500 plus at least $100 + for mandatory fees such as trash, boiler system, pest, and concierge (whom most of the time is never really available), amongst others. Many are also “waiving deposit” but they get you with the $400 admin fees. If you want a step up, be prepared to shed a minimum of $1,700. Don’t even get me started with the cost of homes and taxes.

I’ve also noticed a lot of affordable dive bars and restaurants have closed and been replaced by upscale cocktail bars and high end transplant restaurants from other cities. I like these upscale spots, but not every single weekend where the drinks are $18 a pop. A good martini used to run me $12 and now you’re sitting at $25 with the inclusion of gratuity plus “other fees”. I understand costs would be different if I lived outside the beltway and never went out, but that’s not an option, we can’t sit inside and watch Netflix forever folks.

Meat and fresh ingredients have also shot up immensely at our beloved HEB. Avocados used to be .33 and now are sitting at .90 for a small. Meat, cheese, chips and other snacks have risen at least $2.

Despite having a good paying job, I’ve been cutting back immensely over the last year to keep up with the rising cost of Houston. I’ve traveled to CA and NYC several times over the last three years expecting to break the bank, but when I’ve gone out, I find myself spending the same amount on food and transportation, as I would in Houston. I don’t see a huge difference.

Like I said, I know some won’t agree, but I wanted to put this in perspective for those who move to Houston thinking it’s so cheap and affordable. I’m not sitting here yelling and screaming “F U Htown” because I do really love living here. But I hope prospects and new residents understand that It’s not a super cheap fairytale land, the cheap glory days are over, and it will only continue to rise as more people move here.