Median rent is 2% lower in Austin ($1,655/mo vs $1,697/mo). Buying is cheaper in Austin, where the median home runs $512,700 versus $641,900. Households earn more in Cottonwood Heights ($116,583 vs $91,461 a year).
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Cottonwood Heights, UT
How much would you need to earn in Cottonwood Heights, UT to maintain your standard of living from Austin, TX?
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
Austin
Texas
Cottonwood Heights
Utah
👥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: $1,655/mo in Austin and $1,697/mo in Cottonwood Heights. Median home values are within 20% of each other: $512,700 in Austin and $641,900 in Cottonwood Heights.
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 6.25% in Texas and 4.85% in Utah; Cottonwood Heights has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Cottonwood Heights
Income tax: 4.65%
Sales tax: 4.85%
Air quality data is available for Austin (avg AQI 47.0) but not yet for Cottonwood Heights.
Pick Cottonwood Heights if you prioritize higher median household income ($116,583/yr).
Pick Austin if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Austin cheaper than Cottonwood Heights?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Austin vs Cottonwood Heights?
Median rent is $1,655/mo in Austin, TX and $1,697/mo in Cottonwood Heights, UT. Austin, TX has the lower rent by about 2%.
Which has higher salaries — Austin or Cottonwood Heights?
Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $116,583 in Cottonwood Heights, UT. Cottonwood Heights, 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 — Austin or Cottonwood Heights?
Texas has no state income tax. Utah has a top rate of 4.65%.
What salary do I need in Cottonwood Heights to match my Austin 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