Median rent is 3% lower in Austin ($1,655/mo vs $1,713/mo). Buying is cheaper in Auburn, where the median home runs $510,400 versus $512,700. Households earn more in Auburn ($95,367 vs $91,461 a year).
City A
Auburn, WA
City B
Austin, TX
How much would you need to earn in Austin, TX to maintain your standard of living from Auburn, WA?
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
Auburn
Washington
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: $1,713/mo in Auburn and $1,655/mo in Austin. Median home values are within 0% of each other: $510,400 in Auburn and $512,700 in Austin.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Both Washington and Texas have no state income tax — a notable advantage for workers in both cities. Sales tax is 6.50% in Washington and 6.25% in Texas; Austin has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Auburn
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.50%
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Air quality data is available for Austin (avg AQI 47.0) but not yet for Auburn.
Is Auburn cheaper than Austin?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Auburn vs Austin?
Median rent is $1,713/mo in Auburn, WA and $1,655/mo in Austin, TX. Austin, TX has the lower rent by about 3%.
Which has higher salaries — Auburn or Austin?
Median household income is $95,367 in Auburn, WA and $91,461 in Austin, TX. Auburn, WA 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 — Auburn or Austin?
Both Washington and Texas have no state income tax.
What salary do I need in Austin to match my Auburn 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