| Index | Austin | Texas | National |
| Cost of living | 126 | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health care | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 183 | 83 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 103 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 103 | 98 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Austin? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Austin stands at 126, making it 26% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Austin is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Austin falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
When it comes to the cost of living in Austin, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 82.8% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 41 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Austin. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 24% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 76% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Wondering if Austin is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Austin, for example, the median home price is 101.5% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 39.1% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Austin boasting a median household income of $112,352, which is 38.1% higher than the national average.
Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Austin, the housing index is 82.8% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Austin, healthcare costs are 2% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday household expenses, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Austin, the standard sales tax rate starts at 6.25%, and the income tax rates commence at 0%.
The Austin cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $165,161 | $13,763 | $3,853 | $4,955 |
| Renters | $83,900 | $6,992 | $1,958 | $2,517 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Texas | 6.25% | 8.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Texas | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Lago Vista CDP, TX | 73 | 100 | 0.1% |
| Mustang Ridge, TX | 1,265 | 97 | 3.0% |
| Garfield, TX | 2,560 | 102 | 1.9% |
| Webberville, TX | 411 | 106 | 5.7% |
| Hornsby Bend, TX | 8,860 | 107 | 6.5% |
| Austin, TX | 988,400 | 126 | 26.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Jacksonville, FL | 934,752 | 108 | 8.0% |
| Fort Worth, TX | 926,371 | 103 | 2.9% |
| Edmonton, AB | 1,053,392 | n/a | |
| Ottawa, ON | 1,058,126 | n/a | |
| Columbus, OH | 914,920 | 97 | 3.5% |
| Austin, TX | 988,400 | 126 | 26.1% |
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