Overall
98.1
-1.9 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Cost-of-living indicators for Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 98.1
- Overall RPP
- #113
- of 387 metros
- 120.4
- Rents RPP
- $102K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Austin costs less than 29% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 98.1, 1.9% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 120.4.
- 98.1
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #113
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 71%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 120.4
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $101,972 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $98,066.
What the Numbers Mean for Austin
Austin ranks #113 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 98.1, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX is 1.9% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Austin's most and least expensive categories — rents at 120.4 versus services at 82.0 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $101,972 inside Austin, while a household needs roughly $98,066 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 120.4 — 20.4% above the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Austin's overall index has stayed within 1.5 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 93.8 and services at 82.0, meaning everyday spending in Austin is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Austin vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
98 Top 29% higher than 71% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Austin cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
120.4 RPP
- Services
Services
82 RPP
- Overall
Overall
98.1 RPP
- Goods
Goods
93.8 RPP
What this shows Austin's gap from the national average is led by rents at 120.4. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Austin's cost comes from
Metros near Austin's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.3, rents 101.2). Austin is more housing-led than its peers — its rents run higher than its goods. These metros sit near Austin's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
93.8
-6.2 below avg
Services
82.0
-18.0 below avg
Rents
120.4
+20.4 above avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$98,066
in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$49,033
$75,000 nationally
$73,550
$125,000 nationally
$122,583
$150,000 nationally
$147,099
$200,000 nationally
$196,132
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 1.5 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.6 |
| 2009 | 98.9 |
| 2010 | 99.8 |
| 2011 | 100.3 |
| 2012 | 100.9 |
| 2013 | 100.8 |
| 2014 | 101.4 |
| 2015 | 101.6 |
| 2016 | 102.6 |
| 2017 | 101.8 |
| 2018 | 99.0 |
| 2019 | 99.4 |
| 2020 | 101.1 |
| 2021 | 100.0 |
| 2022 | 98.8 |
| 2023 | 98.3 |
| 2024 | 98.1 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX's index of 98.1.
Other TX Metros
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX? ▼
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 98.1, meaning it is 1.9% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 93.8, services at 82.0, and rents at 120.4. It ranks #113 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $98,066 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX. Conversely, $100K earned in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX has the purchasing power of $101,972 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX? ▼
Rents in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX are indexed at 120.4, which is 20.4% above the national average. This is significantly higher than typical U.S. rents.
Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX's overall cost index changed by -1.5 points (from 99.6 to 98.1). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What costs the most in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX? ▼
The most expensive category in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX is rents at 120.4, which is 20.4% above the national average. The most affordable category is services at 82.0, 18.0% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, Carson City, Raleigh-Cary. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX's 98.1.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
