Cost of Living: Austin vs Houston
Purchasing Power Parity: how far does your salary go in Austin compared to Houston?
In Austin, a salary of $100,000 is equivalent to about $86K in Houston. That means Houston offers 16% more spending power. Your money goes further in Houston.
Based on Numbeo cost of living indices. Full methodology.
Salary Converter
Equivalent salary needed in Houston
$86K
To maintain the same standard of living, you'd need $86K in Houston vs $100K in Austin
Austin
68.2
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
Houston
58.9
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
How They Compare
Houston is 14% cheaper than Austin
What Top Roles Earn Here
Real salary data for roles with earnings data in both Austin and Houston, adjusted for cost of living.
| Role | Austin median | Houston median | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $140K | $110K | Austin wins by 9% |
| Cloud Architect | $91K | $85K | Houston wins by 9% |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $127K | $108K | roughly equal |
| Computer Programmers | $80K | $91K | Houston wins by 32% |
| Data Scientists | $139K | $111K | Austin wins by 8% |
Salary data from public records. Adjusted for cost of living using PPP ratio (0.86x). Methodology.
See real salary data
Check actual public salaries for these cities on RoleHue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:How much more does it cost to live in Austin vs Houston?
A: Austin is approximately 16% more expensive than Houston, based on Numbeo cost of living indices. A salary of $100,000 in Houston is equivalent to about $116K in Austin. However, actual costs vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation.
Q:What salary do I need in Austin to match $100,000 in Houston?
A: To maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Houston, you would need approximately $116K in Austin. This accounts for differences in housing, groceries, transportation, and other living expenses between the two cities.
Q:Are these cost of living differences accurate for everyone?
A: Cost of living indices provide a useful benchmark, but individual experiences vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation. The data comes from Numbeo's crowd-sourced cost of living database and reflects average spending patterns. Use the interactive calculator above to model your specific salary scenario.
Q:How do real salaries compare between Austin and Houston?
A: Based on 5 roles with salary data in both cities, Austin wins by 9% when adjusted for cost of living. See the role comparison table below for detailed breakdowns with links to full salary pages.
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