San Jose vs Austin
San Jose, CA · Austin, TX
Austin is 39% cheaper than San Jose overall.
Home Price
San: $1,350,000
Austin: $500,000
Monthly Rent
San: $2,195/mo
Austin: $1,300/mo
COL Index
San: 198
Austin: 121
Median Income
San: $137,200
Austin: $83,800
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 San Jose has the same purchasing power as $61,111 in Austin — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Austin cost 63% more (-$850,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Austin saves you $895/month — $10,740 per year. Median rent: $2,195/mo in San Jose vs $1,300/mo in Austin.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, San Jose owners pay roughly $9,180/year in property taxes vs $9,000/year in Austin. That's a $180 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $137,200 in San Jose and $83,800 in Austin. Austin residents earn 39% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 30 minutes in San Jose vs 27 minutes in Austin. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from San Jose to Austin, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in San Jose | Equivalent in Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $30,556 | -$19,444 |
| $75,000 | $45,833 | -$29,167 |
| $100,000 | $61,111 | -$38,889 |
| $150,000 | $91,667 | -$58,333 |
| $200,000 | $122,222 | -$77,778 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
See monthly payments for homes in either city
Rent vs Buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in these markets?
Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
Project future home value growth
Affordability Calculator
How much home can you afford?
Property Tax Calculator
Estimate taxes in San Jose or Austin
San Jose Calculators
Austin Calculators
Related Comparisons
San Jose vs Austin: Common Questions
Is San Jose or Austin cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Austin is cheaper overall. San Jose has a COL index of 198 while Austin scores 121 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between San Jose and Austin?
The median home price in San Jose is $1,350,000 vs $500,000 in Austin — a difference of $850,000 (63%).
What salary do I need in Austin to match my San Jose income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in San Jose is equivalent to $61,111 in Austin in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
San Jose has a lower property tax rate (0.68% vs 1.8%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $9,000/year vs $9,180/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.