Austin vs San Francisco
Cost of Living (2026)

Austin is 104% less expensive than San Francisco. Plus, Texas has no state income tax vs California's 9.3%.

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

San Francisco, CA

COL index224
State income tax9.3%
Avg 1BR rent$3,600/mo
Median home price$1350K

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryAustin indexSan Francisco indexDifference
Housing144 ✓297+153%
Groceries104 ✓209+105%
Transportation105 ✓205+100%
Healthcare107 ✓215+108%
Utilities104 ✓193+89%

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

Salary equivalency: Austin → San Francisco

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

Salary in AustinEquivalent in San FranciscoDifference
$60,000$141,000+$81,000
$80,000$188,000+$108,000
$100,000$235,000+$135,000
$130,000$305,000+$175,000
$150,000$352,000+$202,000
$200,000$469,000+$269,000

Austin vs San Francisco: Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

When comparing the cost of living between Austin, TX and San Francisco, CA, Austin comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 110 versus 224 for San Francisco — a difference of approximately 104%.

State income tax impact

Texas has no state income tax, giving Austin workers an immediate 9.3% take-home pay advantage over San Francisco workers who pay California's 9.3% state income tax.

Housing costs

The median home price in Austin is $520,000, compared to $1,350,000 in San Francisco. Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,650/month in Austin versus $3,600/month in San Francisco.

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