Median rent is 17% lower in Austin ($1,655/mo vs $2,001/mo). Buying is cheaper in Austin, where the median home runs $512,700 versus $644,300. Households earn more in Ellicott City ($157,891 vs $91,461 a year).
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Ellicott City, MD
How much would you need to earn in Ellicott City, MD 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
Ellicott City
Maryland
👥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 rent is modestly lower in Austin at $1,655/mo compared to $2,001/mo in Ellicott City (17% gap). Median home values are within 20% of each other: $512,700 in Austin and $644,300 in Ellicott City.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Texas has no state income tax, while Maryland tops out at 5.75% — giving Austin a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Texas and 6.00% in Maryland; Ellicott City has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Ellicott City
Income tax: 5.75%
Sales tax: 6.00%
Air quality data is available for Austin (avg AQI 47.0) but not yet for Ellicott City.
Pick Ellicott City if you prioritize higher median household income ($157,891/yr).
Pick Austin if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,655/mo median).
Pick Austin if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Austin cheaper than Ellicott City?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Austin vs Ellicott City?
Median rent is $1,655/mo in Austin, TX and $2,001/mo in Ellicott City, MD. Austin, TX has the lower rent by about 17%.
Which has higher salaries — Austin or Ellicott City?
Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $157,891 in Ellicott City, MD. Ellicott City, MD 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 Ellicott City?
Texas has no state income tax. Maryland has a top rate of 5.75%.
What salary do I need in Ellicott City 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