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Cost of Living · Texas

Austin Cost of Living

Austin, Texas costs approximately 5.0% above the US national average. Compare with 99 other major US cities.

1.05×
cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)
Austin ranks 1 of 12 cities in Texas by cost of living.
Cities MORE expensive than Austin (21)
San Francisco, CA
+38.1% more expensive
Oakland, CA
+28.6% more expensive
New York City, NY
+25.7% more expensive
Honolulu, HI
+23.8% more expensive
Irvine, CA
+23.8% more expensive
Los Angeles, CA
+16.2% more expensive
Boston, MA
+16.2% more expensive
San Diego, CA
+15.2% more expensive
Yonkers, NY
+14.3% more expensive
Anchorage, AK
+14.3% more expensive
Seattle, WA
+12.4% more expensive
Long Beach, CA
+12.4% more expensive
Anaheim, CA
+12.4% more expensive
Scottsdale, AZ
+12.4% more expensive
Chula Vista, CA
+9.5% more expensive
Miami, FL
+6.7% more expensive
Portland, OR
+4.8% more expensive
Newark, NJ
+4.8% more expensive
Sacramento, CA
+4.8% more expensive
Riverside, CA
+4.8% more expensive
Denver, CO
+2.9% more expensive
Cities CHEAPER than Austin (72)
Las Vegas, NV
−1.0% cheaper
Minneapolis, MN
−1.0% cheaper
Plano, TX
−1.0% cheaper
Chandler, AZ
−1.0% cheaper
Phoenix, AZ
−2.9% cheaper
Philadelphia, PA
−2.9% cheaper
Atlanta, GA
−2.9% cheaper
Tampa, FL
−2.9% cheaper
Henderson, NV
−2.9% cheaper
Reno, NV
−2.9% cheaper
Gilbert, AZ
−2.9% cheaper
Charleston, SC
−2.9% cheaper
Salt Lake City, UT
−2.9% cheaper
Orlando, FL
−3.8% cheaper
Wilmington, DE
−4.8% cheaper
Raleigh, NC
−4.8% cheaper
Virginia Beach, VA
−4.8% cheaper
St. Paul, MN
−4.8% cheaper
Chesapeake, VA
−4.8% cheaper
North Las Vegas, NV
−4.8% cheaper
Boise, ID
−4.8% cheaper
Fresno, CA
−4.8% cheaper
Worcester, MA
−4.8% cheaper
Dallas, TX
−5.7% cheaper
Nashville, TN
−5.7% cheaper
Colorado Springs, CO
−5.7% cheaper
Bakersfield, CA
−5.7% cheaper
St. Petersburg, FL
−5.7% cheaper
Madison, WI
−5.7% cheaper
Norfolk, VA
−6.7% cheaper
Jacksonville, FL
−7.6% cheaper
Charlotte, NC
−7.6% cheaper
Mesa, AZ
−7.6% cheaper
Houston, TX
−8.6% cheaper
Fort Worth, TX
−8.6% cheaper
Tucson, AZ
−8.6% cheaper
Glendale, AZ
−8.6% cheaper
Garland, TX
−8.6% cheaper
Spokane, WA
−8.6% cheaper
Pittsburgh, PA
−9.5% cheaper
Arlington, TX
−9.5% cheaper
Tallahassee, FL
−9.5% cheaper
Milwaukee, WI
−10.5% cheaper
Albuquerque, NM
−10.5% cheaper
New Orleans, LA
−10.5% cheaper
San Antonio, TX
−11.4% cheaper
Grand Rapids, MI
−11.4% cheaper
Columbus, OH
−12.4% cheaper
Detroit, MI
−12.4% cheaper
Cincinnati, OH
−12.4% cheaper
Kansas City, MO
−12.4% cheaper
Lexington, KY
−12.4% cheaper
Corpus Christi, TX
−12.4% cheaper
Buffalo, NY
−12.4% cheaper
Greensboro, NC
−12.4% cheaper
Knoxville, TN
−12.4% cheaper
El Paso, TX
−13.3% cheaper
Cleveland, OH
−13.3% cheaper
St. Louis, MO
−13.3% cheaper
Winston-Salem, NC
−13.3% cheaper
Indianapolis, IN
−14.3% cheaper
Louisville, KY
−14.3% cheaper
Omaha, NE
−14.3% cheaper
Memphis, TN
−15.2% cheaper
Oklahoma City, OK
−15.2% cheaper
Lincoln, NE
−15.2% cheaper
Birmingham, AL
−16.2% cheaper
Toledo, OH
−16.2% cheaper
Lubbock, TX
−16.2% cheaper
Wichita, KS
−18.1% cheaper
Fort Wayne, IN
−18.1% cheaper
Mobile, AL
−18.1% cheaper

What living in Austin costs

At 1.05x national costs, Austin is more expensive than 72 and cheaper than 21 of the 99 other metros here. In practical terms that is $1,400 a month for a one-bedroom and roughly $480,000 to buy.

The price-to-rent ratio here is roughly 29, which is high. Above about 20, renting and investing the down payment usually beats buying over a normal holding period — the purchase price is steep relative to what the same property earns as a rental.

Working and living here

Austin is a metro of roughly 2.5M and growing fast, running on technology, semiconductors, higher education. Larger employers include Tesla Gigafactory Texas, Apple, Dell Technologies.

Texas levies no state income tax and Austin adds no local one, so the only income tax withheld here is federal. That is worth several thousand dollars a year against a comparable salary in a taxing state — though property and sales taxes in no-income-tax states tend to run above average, so the advantage narrows once you buy.

Getting around: Austin is served by limited transit. Budget for a car — around $9,000 a year all-in once insurance, fuel, maintenance and parking are counted, a cost the index assumes but does not itemise.

Climate: Humid subtropical: January highs near 61°F/lows 40°F, July highs near 97°F/lows 75°F, hot summers with 100+ days above 90°F.

No state income tax, but Texas relies heavily on property tax — effective rates in the Austin metro run roughly 1.8-2.2%, among the highest in the country.

Related tools

Paycheck calculator — take-home after federal, state and local tax. Salary calculator — pay by job and state. Compare against another metro.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin expensive to live in?▾
Relative to the US average, roughly average — the cost index is 1.05x, above 72 and below 21 of the 99 other metros tracked here. A one-bedroom averages $1,400 a month and the median home $480,000.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Austin?▾
A common rule keeps rent under 30% of gross income, which at $1,400 a month implies about $56,000 a year for a one-bedroom. That is a floor rather than a comfortable figure — it leaves nothing for savings or the car this metro effectively requires.