San Francisco vs Austin
Cost of Living (2026)

Austin is 51% more affordable than San Francisco. Plus, Texas has no state income tax vs California's 9.3%.

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At a glance

San Francisco, CA

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

Austin, TX

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

Cost breakdown by category

CategorySan Francisco indexAustin indexDifference
Housing297144 ✓-153%
Groceries209104 ✓-105%
Transportation205105 ✓-100%
Healthcare215107 ✓-108%
Utilities193104 ✓-89%

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

Salary equivalency: San Francisco → Austin

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

Salary in San FranciscoEquivalent in AustinDifference
$60,000$26,000$-34,000
$80,000$34,000$-46,000
$100,000$43,000$-57,000
$130,000$55,000$-75,000
$150,000$64,000$-86,000
$200,000$85,000$-115,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between San Francisco, CA and Austin, TX, Austin comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 110 versus 224 for San Francisco — a difference of approximately 51%.

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

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