Cost of Living · Updated June 2026
New York City vs Austin Salary Equivalent Calculator
Austin is about 51% cheaper than New York City overall in 2026. A single professional spends about $5,759 per month in New York City and $2,825 in Austin, all-in with centre rent – and to match the lifestyle a $100,000 salary buys in New York City, you would need roughly $63,000 in Austin.
The biggest lever is housing: a one-bedroom in the centre runs $4,400 in New York City versus $1,850 in Austin (-58%). Day-to-day costs differ less – groceries ($620 vs $460), utilities ($190 vs $170), and a transit pass ($132 vs $42) – which is why flat CPI comparisons mislead people who rent in the centre.
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
- $100,000 in New York City ≈ $63,000 in Austin on the 2026 composite index.
- Centre rent gap: $4,400 vs $1,850 for a one-bedroom (-58% in Austin).
- All-in single budgets: $5,759/month in New York City vs $2,825/month in Austin.
- Family of four: $11,202 vs $5,438 per month.
- Local purchasing power favours Austin when you earn the local average salary.
| Expense | New York City | Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent – 1-bed, city centre | $4,400 | $1,850 | -58% |
| Rent – 1-bed, outside centre | $3,000 | $1,500 | -50% |
| Rent – 3-bed, city centre | $8,200 | $3,300 | -60% |
| Groceries (single person) | $620 | $460 | -26% |
| Utilities + internet | $190 | $170 | -11% |
| Public transport pass | $132 | $42 | -68% |
| Inexpensive restaurant meal | $30 | $22 | -27% |
| All-in single person budget | $5,759 | $2,825 | -51% |
| All-in family of 4 budget | $11,202 | $5,438 | -51% |
How the New York City → Austin salary equivalence works
MovingCal scores every city on a composite 2026 cost index that includes rent (New York = 100). New York City scores 100; Austin scores 63. Equivalent salary is your current salary multiplied by 63/100 – so $100,000 in New York City ≈ $63,000 in Austin.
Index math is a starting point, not a verdict. Two corrections matter: taxes (gross pay buys different net pay – check the salary after tax calculator for both locations) and housing choice (renting outside the centre cuts the gap to $1,500/month between these two cities).
Affordability analysis: who comes out ahead?
Measured against local average net salaries ($7,200/month in New York City, $6,000/month in Austin), a single person's budget consumes 80% of typical take-home pay in New York City and 47% in Austin. Austin is the easier city to save in on a local salary.
Buying instead of renting changes the picture: property runs $17,500/m² in New York City versus $5,300/m² in Austin, with typical 2026 mortgage rates of 6.3% and 6.3% respectively. See the rent vs buy pages for both cities before assuming ownership is cheaper.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Austin cheaper than New York City in 2026?
Austin is about 51% cheaper than New York City overall. A single person needs about $5,759 per month in New York City versus $2,825 in Austin, including rent in the city centre.
What salary in Austin equals $100,000 in New York City?
Based on the 2026 composite cost index (including rent), you would need roughly $63,000 in Austin to keep the purchasing power of a $100,000 salary in New York City. Taxes differ too, so run the salary-after-tax calculator for the net picture.
How much higher is rent in New York City?
A one-bedroom in the centre averages $4,400 in New York City and $1,850 in Austin – a gap of 138%. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the total difference.
How much does a family of 4 need in New York City vs Austin?
Plan on about $11,202 per month in New York City and $5,438 in Austin for a family of four renting a three-bedroom in the centre, including groceries, utilities, transport, and a lifestyle margin.
How is this comparison calculated?
MovingCal combines 2026 rent, grocery, utility, transport, and dining estimates into a composite index (New York = 100). New York City scores 100 and Austin scores 63. Equivalent salary = your salary × (63 ÷ 100).
More on New York City
More on Austin
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