Austin vs Plano
Cost of Living (2026)

Plano is 5% more affordable than Austin.

Enter your salary → get exact comparison

At a glance

Austin, TX

COL index110
State income taxNone
Avg 1BR rent$1,650/mo
Median home price$520K
VS

Plano, TX

COL index105 ✓
State income taxNone
Avg 1BR rent$1,500/mo ✓
Median home price$430K ✓

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryAustin indexPlano indexDifference
Housing144137 ✓-7%
Groceries104100 ✓-4%
Transportation105100 ✓-5%
Healthcare107102 ✓-5%
Utilities104100 ✓-4%

Source: C2ER Cost of Living Index 2026. Index = 100 is US average. ✓ indicates lower cost.

Salary equivalency: Austin → Plano

What salary in Plano gives you the same purchasing power as your Austin salary?

Salary in AustinEquivalent in PlanoDifference
$60,000$57,000$-3,000
$80,000$76,000$-4,000
$100,000$95,000$-5,000
$130,000$124,000$-6,000
$150,000$143,000$-7,000
$200,000$191,000$-9,000

Austin vs Plano: Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

When comparing the cost of living between Austin, TX and Plano, TX, Plano comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 105 versus 110 for Austin — a difference of approximately 5%.

State income tax impact

Both Texas and Texas have no state income tax, so that factor is neutral in this comparison.

Housing costs

The median home price in Austin is $520,000, compared to $430,000 in Plano. Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,650/month in Austin versus $1,500/month in Plano.

Austin vs Houston →Austin vs San Antonio →Austin vs Dallas →Austin vs Fort Worth →Austin vs El Paso →Austin vs Arlington →