Cost of living, Austin
98.1
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Austin sits about 1.9% below national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- −1.9%
- Metro
- Austin
- CBSA
- 12420
Austin all-items RPP is 98.1 (2024), about 1.9% below US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $88,290 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Austin
| Component | Austin | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.1 | 100 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 120.4 | 100 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Austin
| At US average | In Austin |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $58,860 |
| $90,000 | $88,290 |
| $150,000 | $147,150 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (98.1 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Highest wages here
- Chief Executives , 950 OEWS emp. $288,150
- Physicians, All Other , 1,550 OEWS emp. $276,600
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 11,050 OEWS emp. $176,990
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 3,130 OEWS emp. $176,540
- Financial Managers , 7,210 OEWS emp. $167,180
- Marketing Managers , 7,170 OEWS emp. $164,920
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Austin?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX is 98.1, versus a US average of 100 (−1.9%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $88,290 in Austin for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
See methodology and disclaimer.