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Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX

Cost of living in Austin, Texas

Travis County, TX

Part of the Austin Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,706/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 1,307,625 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,650 45%
Federal tax $738 20%
Healthcare $480 13%
Groceries $334 9%
Transport $250 7%
Energy $199 5%
Water $55 1%
State tax $0 0%

Rent in Austin

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,549
per month
1 bedroom
$1,650
per month
2 bedroom
$1,949
per month
3 bedroom
$2,484
per month
4 bedroom
$2,882
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Austin

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$97,169
per year
Individual earnings
$55,186
per year
Per capita
$59,289
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Austin

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$487,600
Annual property tax
$7,487

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Austin

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$167
per month · 14.5¢/kWh
Natural gas
$32
per month
Annual total
$2,388
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Austin

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
12.2%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Austin

State and local tax rates for Texas.

No state income tax
Texas does not levy a personal income tax.
State sales tax
6.3%
Combined sales tax
8.2%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Austin

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
25.4 min
Drive alone
59.7%
Public transit
1.7%
Work from home
27.2%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Austin

What it costs to live in Austin each month.

Single person
$3,706
per month
  • Rent $1,650
  • Energy $199
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $334
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $738
  • State tax $0
Couple
$5,280
per month
  • Rent $1,949
  • Energy $239
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $553
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,260
  • State tax $0
Family
$7,957
per month
  • Rent $2,484
  • Energy $298
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $840
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,260
  • State tax $0

Frequently asked questions about Austin

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Austin?

In Austin, Texas, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,650 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,949 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,484 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Austin?

In Austin, Texas, the average household income is $97,169 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $55,186 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Austin?

The estimated cost of living in Austin, Texas is approximately $3,706 per month for a single person, $5,280 for a couple, $7,957 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Austin?

The combined sales tax rate in Austin, Texas is 8.19%, which includes the Texas state rate of 6.25% plus an average local rate of 1.94%.

Is Austin an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Austin, Texas would need approximately $3,706 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $97,169 per year ($8,097 per month). Austin is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Austin?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Austin, Texas is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 12.2% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Austin?

The average home value in Austin, Texas is $487,600, with average annual property taxes of $7,487, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Austin compare to other areas?

You can compare Austin, Texas with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Austin is in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area.

Other counties in Texas

Browse the full list of counties in Texas, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Texas

Compare Austin with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources