Median rent is 8% lower in Austin ($1,655/mo vs $1,792/mo). Buying is cheaper in Plano, where the median home runs $440,600 versus $512,700. Households earn more in Plano ($108,649 vs $91,461 a year).
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Plano, TX
How much would you need to earn in Plano, TX 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
Plano
Texas
👥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 $1,792/mo in Plano (8% gap). Median home values are within 14% of each other: $512,700 in Austin and $440,600 in Plano.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Both Texas and Texas have no state income tax — a notable advantage for workers in both cities. Sales tax is 6.25% in Texas and 6.25% in Texas; Plano has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Plano
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Plano has cleaner air on average: 44.0 AQI (Good) compared to 47.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Plano if you prioritize higher median household income ($108,649/yr).
Is Austin cheaper than Plano?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Austin vs Plano?
Median rent is $1,655/mo in Austin, TX and $1,792/mo in Plano, TX. Austin, TX has the lower rent by about 8%.
Which has higher salaries — Austin or Plano?
Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $108,649 in Plano, TX. Plano, 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?
Plano, TX has better air quality on average: 44.0 AQI versus 47.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Austin or Plano?
Both Texas and Texas have no state income tax.
What salary do I need in Plano 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