San Jose vs Austin: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Comparing home values: San Jose sits at $1,149,600, 149% higher than Austin's $461,500.

Households earn a median $136,010 in San Jose, compared with $86,556 in Austin.

Median rent is $2,526 in San Jose, compared with $1,549 in Austin.

Austin carries FEMA's Relatively High hazard rating, compared with Very High for San Jose.

Metric	San Jose, CA	Austin, TX
Population	1,001,176	958,202
Median home value	$1,149,600	$461,500
Median household income	$136,010	$86,556
Median gross rent	$2,526	$1,549
Climate risk (FEMA)	Very High	Relatively High

Austin, TX comes out ahead on housing affordability versus San Jose, CA, with both a lower median home value and lower rent. Housing only — not the full cost-of-living picture.

Moving between San Jose and Austin

San Jose and Austin are 1,459 miles apart in a straight line.

What changes when you move	San Jose → Austin	Austin → San Jose
Median rent	−$977/mo (−39%)	+$977/mo (+63%)
Median home value	−$688,100 (−60%)	+$688,100 (+149%)
Median household income	−$49,454 (−36%)	+$49,454 (+57%)

Estimated moving cost (either direction)

Home size	Estimated cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	$1,864 – $2,974
2-3 bedroom	$4,170 – $6,590
4+ bedroom house	$6,899 – $10,857

Estimates based on typical per-mile and per-room moving-industry rates; actual quotes vary by mover, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

San Jose, CA Austin, TX

1,678 miles estimated driving distance · 28 hours of highway driving

DIY Truck Rental

$2,177 – $2,773

Includes an estimated $587 in fuel (168 gal at ~10 mpg) over 4 driving days.

Professional Movers

$7,717 – $14,369

Full-service crew, loading and unloading included.

Estimates based on typical rental-truck, fuel, and professional-mover industry rates; actual quotes vary by carrier, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; FEMA National Risk Index

Data last updated July 2026.