Cost of living in the Austin Metro Area
5 counties across TX. Population: 2,357,497.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Austin Metro Area
Average rent across the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Austin Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 5 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Austin Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Austin Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 5 counties in the Austin Metro Area
The Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area includes 5 counties. Sorted by population.
- Austin TX$3,706/moPop1,307,625 Rent$1,650/mo Income$97,169/yrAustin TX 1,307,625 $1,650/mo $97,169/yr $3,706/mo
- Williamson County TX$3,709/moPop643,889 Rent$1,650/mo Income$108,309/yrWilliamson County TX 643,889 $1,650/mo $108,309/yr $3,709/mo
- Hays County TX$3,561/moPop256,429 Rent$1,650/mo Income$85,827/yrHays County TX 256,429 $1,650/mo $85,827/yr $3,561/mo
- Bastrop County TX$3,559/moPop102,370 Rent$1,650/mo Income$82,730/yrBastrop County TX 102,370 $1,650/mo $82,730/yr $3,559/mo
- Caldwell County TX$3,500/moPop47,184 Rent$1,650/mo Income$68,503/yrCaldwell County TX 47,184 $1,650/mo $68,503/yr $3,500/mo
Compare counties in the Austin Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Austin Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Austin Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area is approximately $3,681 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 5 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Austin Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area is $1,650 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Austin Metro Area?
Caldwell County, TX is the most affordable county in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area at approximately $3,500 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Austin Metro Area?
Williamson County, TX is the most expensive county in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area at approximately $3,709 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Austin Metro Area?
The Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area covers 5 counties. The five largest by population are Austin, Williamson County, Hays County, Bastrop County, Caldwell County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.