Denver vs Austin: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Denver, CO and Austin, TX, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Denver, CO | Austin, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 711,463 | 961,855 |
| Median household income | $88,213 | $86,556 |
| Median home value | $561,400 | $551,200 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,601 | $1,608 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) — SAMPLE. Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Denver, CO and Austin, TX comes down to what you value most. Austin has the lower median home value, and Denver has the lower median rent.
Denver has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Austin?
- By median home value, Austin is the cheaper of the two ($551,200 vs $561,400). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Denver or Austin?
- Median household income is $88,213 in Denver versus $86,556 in Austin, per the US Census Bureau.