Cost of Living · Updated June 2026
Cost of living in Austin excluding rent
Strip out housing and Austin costs about $975/month for a single person in 2026: groceries $460, utilities $170, transport $42, plus dining and lifestyle. That is the number that matters if you already own, house-sit, or have employer housing.
Rent-free comparisons flatten city differences dramatically – without rent, Austin sits within ~15% of most US metros. The housing line is where cities truly diverge.
Cost of living calculator
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Composite 2026 index incl. centre rent (NYC = 100). Salary figures are gross – taxes not included; pair with the salary after tax calculator.
Key insights
Key insights
- All-in single budget in Austin: $2,825/month (2026).
- Family of four: $5,438/month with a centre three-bedroom.
- Rent spread: $1,500 (outside) to $1,850 (centre) for a one-bedroom.
- Composite index: 63 vs New York = 100.
- Local average net salary: $6,000/month.
| Household | Housing | Essentials + lifestyle | Total / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single person (1-bed, centre) | $1,850 | $975 | $2,825 |
| Couple (1-bed, centre) | $1,850 | $1,570 | $3,420 |
| Family of 4 (3-bed, centre) | $3,300 | $2,138 | $5,438 |
| Budget single (1-bed, outer) | $1,500 | $878 | $2,378 |
Austin cost breakdown, line by line
Core 2026 numbers for Austin: one-bedroom rent $1,850 (centre) / $1,500 (outside), groceries $460/month for one, utilities $170, monthly transit pass $42, and a casual restaurant meal at $22. On the MovingCal composite index (New York = 100), Austin scores 63.
Property costs $5,300/m² in the centre with typical mortgage rates around 6.3% in 2026 – useful context if your move could turn into a purchase later. Compare the rent vs buy page for Austin before assuming either answer.
Affordability vs local salaries
The average net salary in Austin is about $6,000/month. A single-person budget of $2,825 therefore absorbs 47% of typical take-home pay – leaving healthy savings room.
If you are arriving on a foreign salary, run it through the salary after tax calculator first – the index comparison only holds after tax, and state tax rules move the answer by thousands per year.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much money do you need to live in Austin?
In 2026, a single person needs about $2,825/month including centre rent, a couple about $4,238, and a family of four about $5,438. Living outside the centre cuts 15–25% off these totals.
What is a good salary in Austin?
A net income of $3,673/month supports a comfortable single lifestyle with savings. That corresponds to a gross salary of roughly $63,000/year depending on your tax situation.
How expensive is rent in Austin?
One-bedrooms average $1,850 in the centre and $1,500 outside it; three-bedrooms in the centre run $3,300. Budget a deposit of one to three months' rent on signing.
Is Austin affordable on the local average salary?
The average net salary is $6,000/month, so a single budget consumes about 47% of typical take-home pay. That leaves real savings room by international standards.
Where does this 2026 data come from?
MovingCal aggregates rental listings, national statistics, and crowd-sourced price data, updated for 2026, then normalises everything to USD and a composite index (New York = 100) so cities can be compared like-for-like.
More on Austin
Keep exploring
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