New York City vs. Austin: cost of living comparison
A side-by-side breakdown of what it actually costs to live in New York City and Austin in 2026 — housing, taxes, salaries, and family expenses — sourced from FuturePath City Intelligence.
New York, NY
Austin, TX
Side-by-side comparison
| Metric | New York City | Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent (monthly) | $3,650 | $1,700 | +$1,950 |
| Median home price | $780K | $545K | +$235K |
| Median salary | $105,000 | $92,000 | +$13,000 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.283% | 0.225% | +0.05799999999999997% |
| Mortgage burden | 58.2% | 32.1% | +26.1% |
| Childcare (monthly) | $2,400 | $1,450 | +$950 |
| School quality (0–10) | 80 | 82 | -2 |
| Overall score | 64 | 88 | -24 |
New York's median rent is 115% higher than Austin's, and home prices follow a similar gap. Austin buyers face a lighter monthly mortgage burden.
Texas has no state income tax, so Austin's effective tax rate (0.225%) runs well below NYC's (0.283%). Property tax offsets some of the gap for homeowners.
NYC median pay is 14% above Austin, but higher rent and taxes usually erase that premium for anyone not in finance or top tech.
Austin scores 84 vs NYC's 68 on family well-being, with lower childcare costs and easier access to space — NYC leads on transit, culture, and school density.
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