Median rent is 1% lower in Austin ($1,655/mo vs $1,665/mo). Buying is cheaper in American Fork, where the median home runs $467,900 versus $512,700. Households earn more in American Fork ($95,823 vs $91,461 a year).
City A
American Fork, UT
City B
Austin, TX
How much would you need to earn in Austin, TX to maintain your standard of living from American Fork, UT?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
American Fork
Utah
Austin
Texas
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,665/mo in American Fork and $1,655/mo in Austin. Median home values are within 9% of each other: $467,900 in American Fork and $512,700 in Austin.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Texas has no state income tax, while Utah tops out at 4.65% — giving Austin a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 4.85% in Utah and 6.25% in Texas; American Fork has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
American Fork
Income tax: 4.65%
Sales tax: 4.85%
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Air quality data is available for Austin (avg AQI 47.0) but not yet for American Fork.
Pick Austin if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is American Fork cheaper than Austin?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in American Fork vs Austin?
Median rent is $1,665/mo in American Fork, UT and $1,655/mo in Austin, TX. Austin, TX has the lower rent by about 1%.
Which has higher salaries — American Fork or Austin?
Median household income is $95,823 in American Fork, UT and $91,461 in Austin, TX. American Fork, UT has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — American Fork or Austin?
Texas has no state income tax. Utah has a top rate of 4.65%.
What salary do I need in Austin to match my American Fork income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology