Cost of Living: Austin vs New York (2026)

Q: "Is Austin or New York more expensive?"

"New York is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 113 vs 98 — a 15% difference. Your money goes further in Austin."

Q: "How much is $100,000 in Austin worth in New York?"

"About $114,783 — that's what you'd need in New York to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Austin."

New York is about 15% more expensive than Austin overall — $100,000 in Austin is worth about $114,783 in New York.

Austin vs New York: the numbers

Metric	Austin	New York	Difference
Cost-of-living index (US=100)	98	113	+15%
Median rent	$1,655	$1,779	+7%
Median home value	$512,700	$751,700	+47%
Median household income	$91,461	$79,713	-13%

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 $114,783 in New York. Going the other way, $100,000 in New York is like $87,121 in Austin.

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

Compare any salary: Austin vs New York

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin or New York more expensive?

New York is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 113 vs 98 — a 15% difference. Your money goes further in Austin.

How much is $100,000 in Austin worth in New York?

About $114,783 — that's what you'd need in New York to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Austin.