Median rent is 5% lower in Colorado Springs ($1,648/mo vs $1,729/mo). Buying is cheaper in Colorado Springs, where the median home runs $452,600 versus $555,300. Households earn more in Austin ($93,658 vs $84,818 a year). Taken together, Colorado Springs is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 98.1 against 98.3 — about 0% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Austin, TX.
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Colorado Springs, CO
How much would you need to earn in Colorado Springs, CO to maintain your standard of living from Austin, TX?
Equivalent salary in Colorado Springs, CO
$74,876
You could earn $124 less (0% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Austin
Texas
Colorado Springs
Colorado
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: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,729/mo in Austin and $1,648/mo in Colorado Springs. Median home values are within 18% of each other: $555,300 in Austin and $452,600 in Colorado Springs.
Metric
Austin
Colorado Springs
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Austin
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Colorado Springs
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Colorado Springs has cleaner air on average: 23.0 AQI (Good) compared to 65.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Austin if you prioritize higher median household income ($93,658/yr).
Pick Colorado Springs if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 23.0).
Colorado Springs is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 98.1 versus 98.3 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Colorado Springs.
Median rent is $1,729/mo in Austin, TX and $1,648/mo in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado Springs, CO has the lower rent by about 5%.
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin, TX and $84,818 in Colorado Springs, CO. Austin, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Colorado Springs, CO has better air quality on average: 23.0 AQI versus 65.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Austin, TX is equivalent to roughly $99,834 in Colorado Springs, CO (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
