Austin, TX vs Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix is moderately more affordable than Austin, with a 12.9% lower cost of living index. Austin scores 127 compared to 112 for Phoenix, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Austin can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Austin is $1,655/month compared to $1,458/month in Phoenix — a 14% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Phoenix is more affordable at $381,900 median vs $512,700.

Median household income in Austin is $91,461 compared to $77,041 in Phoenix (+18.7%). While Austin is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Austin spend roughly 21.7% of their income on rent, less than the 22.7% in Phoenix.