Median rent is 15% lower in Austin ($1,655/mo vs $1,950/mo). Buying is cheaper in Forest Hills, where the median home runs $474,800 versus $512,700. Households earn more in Forest Hills ($156,618 vs $91,461 a year).
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Forest Hills, MI
How much would you need to earn in Forest Hills, MI 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
Forest Hills
Michigan
👥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 $1,950/mo in Forest Hills (15% gap). Median home values are within 7% of each other: $512,700 in Austin and $474,800 in Forest Hills.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Texas has no state income tax, while Michigan tops out at 4.25% — giving Austin a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Texas and 6.00% in Michigan; Forest Hills has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Forest Hills
Income tax: 4.25%
Sales tax: 6.00%
Air quality data is available for Austin (avg AQI 47.0) but not yet for Forest Hills.
Pick Forest Hills if you prioritize higher median household income ($156,618/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 Forest Hills?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Austin vs Forest Hills?
Median rent is $1,655/mo in Austin, TX and $1,950/mo in Forest Hills, MI. Austin, TX has the lower rent by about 15%.
Which has higher salaries — Austin or Forest Hills?
Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $156,618 in Forest Hills, MI. Forest Hills, MI 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 Forest Hills?
Texas has no state income tax. Michigan has a top rate of 4.25%.
What salary do I need in Forest Hills 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