Cost of Living: Austin vs Columbus (2026)

Austin vs Columbus cost of living compared: rent, home prices, and what your salary is really worth. Columbus is about 3% less expensive than Austin overall — $100,000 in Austin is worth about $97,352 in Columbus.

Columbus is about 3% less expensive than Austin overall — $100,000 in Austin is worth about $97,352 in Columbus.

Austin vs Columbus: the numbers

MetricAustinColumbusDifference
Cost-of-living index (US=100)9895-3%
Median rent$1,655$1,224-26%
Median home value$512,700$234,500-54%
Median household income$91,461$65,327-29%

Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.

What your salary is worth

A $100,000 salary in Austin has the same buying power as about $97,352 in Columbus. Going the other way, $100,000 in Columbus is like $102,720 in Austin.

Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Austin and Columbus.

Compare any salary: Austin vs Columbus

What you earn (or want to compare)

Frequently Asked Questions

Austin is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 98 vs 95 — a 3% difference. Your money goes further in Columbus.

About $97,352 — that's what you'd need in Columbus to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Austin.