Median rent is 23% lower in Austin ($1,729/mo vs $2,245/mo). Buying is cheaper in Austin, where the median home runs $555,300 versus $722,600. Households earn more in Fairfax ($132,348 vs $93,658 a year).
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Fairfax, VA
How much would you need to earn in Fairfax, VA 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
Fairfax
Virginia
👥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
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Austin — median rent of $1,729/mo versus $2,245/mo in Fairfax, a 23% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Fairfax: the median home is $722,600 versus $555,300 in Austin — 23% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
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
Fairfax
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Austin (avg AQI 65.0) but not yet for Fairfax.
Pick Fairfax if you prioritize higher median household income ($132,348/yr).
Pick Austin if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,729/mo median).
Is Austin cheaper than Fairfax?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Austin vs Fairfax?
Median rent is $1,729/mo in Austin, TX and $2,245/mo in Fairfax, VA. Austin, TX has the lower rent by about 23%.
Which has higher salaries — Austin or Fairfax?
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin, TX and $132,348 in Fairfax, VA. Fairfax, VA 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 Fairfax?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Fairfax to match my Austin income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
