Austin vs Denver
Austin, TX · Denver, CO
Austin and Denver have similar costs of living.
Home Price
Austin: $500,000
Denver: $565,000
Monthly Rent
Austin: $1,300/mo
Denver: $1,395/mo
COL Index
Austin: 121
Denver: 121
Median Income
Austin: $83,800
Denver: $85,200
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Austin has the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Denver — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Denver are 13% cheaper (-$65,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in Austin saves you $95/month — $1,140 per year. Median rent: $1,300/mo in Austin vs $1,395/mo in Denver.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Austin owners pay roughly $9,000/year in property taxes vs $3,108/year in Denver. That's a $5,893 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $83,800 in Austin and $85,200 in Denver. Incomes are similar, so cost of living differences matter more.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 27 minutes in Austin vs 26 minutes in Denver. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Austin to Denver, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Austin | Equivalent in Denver | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $50,000 | $0 |
| $75,000 | $75,000 | $0 |
| $100,000 | $100,000 | $0 |
| $150,000 | $150,000 | $0 |
| $200,000 | $200,000 | $0 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Austin Calculators
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Related Comparisons
Austin vs Denver: Common Questions
Is Austin or Denver cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Denver is cheaper overall. Austin has a COL index of 121 while Denver scores 121 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Austin and Denver?
The median home price in Austin is $500,000 vs $565,000 in Denver — a difference of $65,000 (13%).
What salary do I need in Denver to match my Austin income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Austin is equivalent to $100,000 in Denver in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Denver has a lower property tax rate (0.55% vs 1.8%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $3,108/year vs $9,000/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.