Austin, TX Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Austin, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
in-content-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Austin, Texas is home to roughly 958,202 residents. The typical household earns $86,556 per year — above the median across cities we track (+20%).
Housing costs are a defining factor for anyone relocating here. The median home value sits at $461,500 (above the multi-city median at +41%), while renters pay a median of $1,549 per month. Buyers should weigh current mortgage rates and local property taxes against these figures before committing.
Cost of housing in Austin
Median home value is $461,500 and median gross rent is $1,549/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
Walkability & transit
Walkability data (Walk Score) will appear here once enrichment is run for Austin.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Austin's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
in-content-mid (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Moving to Austin
Planning a move to Austin? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Austin, TX?
- In Austin, the median home value is $461,500 and median rent is $1,549 per month, against a median household income of $86,556. These figures come from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin?
- A common guideline is that rent should stay under 30% of gross income. With median rent at $1,549/month, that implies an income of about $61,960 to keep housing affordable in Austin.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Austin?
- With a median home value of $461,500 and median rent of $1,549/month, the buy-vs-rent decision in Austin depends on how long you plan to stay, current mortgage rates, and your down payment. Compare monthly mortgage estimates against the rent figure above.
Compare Austin to similar cities
- Austin vs Dallas: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Austin vs Miami: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Austin vs New York: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Austin vs Houston: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Austin vs San Antonio: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Austin vs Los Angeles: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison