Median rent is 12% lower in Mount Prospect ($1,454/mo vs $1,655/mo). Buying is cheaper in Mount Prospect, where the median home runs $377,000 versus $512,700. Households earn more in Mount Prospect ($103,911 vs $91,461 a year).
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Mount Prospect, IL
How much would you need to earn in Mount Prospect, IL 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
Mount Prospect
Illinois
👥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 Mount Prospect at $1,454/mo compared to $1,655/mo in Austin (12% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Austin: the median home is $512,700 versus $377,000 in Mount Prospect — 26% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Texas has no state income tax, while Illinois tops out at 4.95% — giving Austin a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Texas and 6.25% in Illinois; Mount Prospect has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Mount Prospect
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Air quality data is available for Austin (avg AQI 47.0) but not yet for Mount Prospect.
Pick Mount Prospect if you prioritize higher median household income ($103,911/yr).
Pick Mount Prospect if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,454/mo median).
Pick Austin if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Austin cheaper than Mount Prospect?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Austin vs Mount Prospect?
Median rent is $1,655/mo in Austin, TX and $1,454/mo in Mount Prospect, IL. Mount Prospect, IL has the lower rent by about 12%.
Which has higher salaries — Austin or Mount Prospect?
Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $103,911 in Mount Prospect, IL. Mount Prospect, IL 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 Mount Prospect?
Texas has no state income tax. Illinois has a top rate of 4.95%.
What salary do I need in Mount Prospect 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