City profile
Austin, TX cost of living
TX · BLS RPP 98.8
Latest official changes
Updates affecting Austin, TX
Existing city metrics remain tied to the current verified ReloMath dataset until the owner flips the new data vintage. Use these rows as dated official-source change receipts.
Overall RPP
98.8
US = 100
Housing RPP
126.4
Housing component
Goods RPP
93.6
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,924/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Austin, TX sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#30 of 67
-1.2 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
+0.4
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#17 of 67
+318/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Austin, TX
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Austin, TX metro.
Moved in
179,168
people · 109,025 households
Moved out
161,152
people · 94,660 households
Net
+18,016
net gain of residents
Net migration rank
#9 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
+18,120
median -104 people
Largest flow share
4% in / 3% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Harris County, TX 6,807
- Bexar County, TX 4,784
- Los Angeles County, CA 3,410
- Dallas County, TX 3,330
- Bell County, TX 3,214
Where residents moved to
- Bexar County, TX 5,458
- Harris County, TX 5,272
- Bell County, TX 5,193
- Comal County, TX 2,972
- Dallas County, TX 2,659
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Austin, TX?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Austin, TX | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $49,400 | $50,000 x (98.8/100) |
| $75,000 | $74,100 | $75,000 x (98.8/100) |
| $100,000 | $98,800 | $100,000 x (98.8/100) |
| $125,000 | $123,500 | $125,000 x (98.8/100) |
| $150,000 | $148,200 | $150,000 x (98.8/100) |
| $200,000 | $197,600 | $200,000 x (98.8/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Texas has no state income tax. Property taxes ~2% effective rate.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Austin, TX?
- Austin, TX has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 98.8 (US average = 100). It is 1.2% less expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Austin, TX?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $98,800 in Austin, TX to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Austin, TX?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Austin, TX is approximately $1,924 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Austin, TX?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 179,168 people moved into the Austin, TX metro and 161,152 moved out — a net gain of roughly 18,016 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Harris County, TX.
Curated nearby & similar cities
Similar verified metros by RPP
These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Austin, TX, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
Curated cost-of-living comparisons for Austin, TX
Side-by-side cost of living and the equivalent salary you'd need — pick a destination.