Median rent is 13% lower in Austin ($1,655/mo vs $1,899/mo). Buying is cheaper in Austin, where the median home runs $512,700 versus $619,400. Households earn more in Silver Spring ($98,880 vs $91,461 a year).
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Silver Spring, MD
How much would you need to earn in Silver Spring, MD 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
Silver Spring
Maryland
👥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 $1,899/mo in Silver Spring (13% gap). Median home values are within 17% of each other: $512,700 in Austin and $619,400 in Silver Spring.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Texas has no state income tax, while Maryland tops out at 5.75% — giving Austin a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Texas and 6.00% in Maryland; Silver Spring has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Silver Spring
Income tax: 5.75%
Sales tax: 6.00%
Air quality data is available for Austin (avg AQI 47.0) but not yet for Silver Spring.
Pick Silver Spring if you prioritize higher median household income ($98,880/yr).
Pick Austin if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,655/mo median).
Pick Austin if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Austin cheaper than Silver Spring?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Austin vs Silver Spring?
Median rent is $1,655/mo in Austin, TX and $1,899/mo in Silver Spring, MD. Austin, TX has the lower rent by about 13%.
Which has higher salaries — Austin or Silver Spring?
Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $98,880 in Silver Spring, MD. Silver Spring, MD 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 Silver Spring?
Texas has no state income tax. Maryland has a top rate of 5.75%.
What salary do I need in Silver Spring 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