Median rent is 3% lower in Modesto ($1,609/mo vs $1,655/mo). Buying is cheaper in Modesto, where the median home runs $415,600 versus $512,700. Households earn more in Austin ($91,461 vs $77,899 a year).
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Modesto, CA
How much would you need to earn in Modesto, CA 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
Modesto
California
👥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 $1,609/mo in Modesto. Median home values are within 19% of each other: $512,700 in Austin and $415,600 in Modesto.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Texas has no state income tax, while California tops out at 13.30% — giving Austin a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Texas and 7.25% in California; Austin has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Modesto
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Modesto has cleaner air on average: 26.0 AQI (Good) compared to 47.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Austin if you prioritize higher median household income ($91,461/yr).
Pick Modesto if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 26.0).
Pick Austin if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Austin cheaper than Modesto?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Austin vs Modesto?
Median rent is $1,655/mo in Austin, TX and $1,609/mo in Modesto, CA. Modesto, CA has the lower rent by about 3%.
Which has higher salaries — Austin or Modesto?
Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $77,899 in Modesto, CA. Austin, TX 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?
Modesto, CA has better air quality on average: 26.0 AQI versus 47.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Austin or Modesto?
Texas has no state income tax. California has a top rate of 13.30%.
What salary do I need in Modesto 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