Median rent is 3% lower in Oregon City ($1,606/mo vs $1,655/mo). Buying is cheaper in Austin, where the median home runs $512,700 versus $531,400. Households earn more in Oregon City ($94,648 vs $91,461 a year).
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Oregon City, OR
How much would you need to earn in Oregon City, OR 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
Oregon City
Oregon
👥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 $1,606/mo in Oregon City. Median home values are within 4% of each other: $512,700 in Austin and $531,400 in Oregon City.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Texas has no state income tax, while Oregon tops out at 9.90% — giving Austin a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Texas and 0.00% in Oregon; Oregon City has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Oregon City
Income tax: 9.90%
Sales tax: None
Air quality data is available for Austin (avg AQI 47.0) but not yet for Oregon City.
Pick Austin if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Austin cheaper than Oregon City?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Austin vs Oregon City?
Median rent is $1,655/mo in Austin, TX and $1,606/mo in Oregon City, OR. Oregon City, OR has the lower rent by about 3%.
Which has higher salaries — Austin or Oregon City?
Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $94,648 in Oregon City, OR. Oregon City, OR 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 Oregon City?
Texas has no state income tax. Oregon has a top rate of 9.90%.
What salary do I need in Oregon 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