Median rent is 17% lower in Orem ($1,438/mo vs $1,729/mo). Buying is cheaper in Orem, where the median home runs $472,300 versus $555,300. Households earn more in Austin ($93,658 vs $83,342 a year). Taken together, Orem is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 88.6 against 98.3 — about 10% lower overall prices.
Cost of living verdict
Orem is 10% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 88.6 in Orem vs 98.3 in Austin (US national average = 100)
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Orem, UT
How much would you need to earn in Orem, UT to maintain your standard of living from Austin, TX?
Equivalent salary in Orem, UT
$67,610
You could earn $7,390 less (10% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Austin
Texas
Orem
Utah
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: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Orem at $1,438/mo compared to $1,729/mo in Austin (17% gap). Median home values are within 15% of each other: $555,300 in Austin and $472,300 in Orem.
Metric
Austin
Orem
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · 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
Orem
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Austin (avg AQI 65.0) but not yet for Orem.
Pick Orem if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 88.6 vs 98.3).
Pick Austin if you prioritize higher median household income ($93,658/yr).
Pick Orem if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,438/mo median).
Orem is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 88.6 versus 98.3 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 10% lower in Orem.
Median rent is $1,729/mo in Austin, TX and $1,438/mo in Orem, UT. Orem, UT has the lower rent by about 17%.
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin, TX and $83,342 in Orem, UT. Austin, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Austin, TX is equivalent to roughly $90,146 in Orem, UT (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
