Boston vs Austin Cost of Living Comparison
Boston, MA vs Austin, TX, Salary, Taxes & Housing
Compare take-home pay, housing costs, and monthly affordability between Boston and Austin. This page is built to help you look past headline salary and see what a move may actually do to your budget.
At a glance, single filer on $100,000
What to pay attention to when comparing Boston and Austin
Massachusetts taxes wages at a flat state rate, while Texas has no state income tax, and Austin rents are far below Boston's. For renters both changes point the same way.
For buyers the picture is closer. Austin home values are not far below Boston's, and Texas property tax rates are more than double Massachusetts rates, so owning costs fall by much less than rent does.
Renters and owners can reach opposite conclusions on this route. Check the renting and buying tables below before relying on one number.
Worked example: $100,000 salary in Boston and Austin
A single filer earning $100,000 a year, taking the standard deduction and saving nothing to a 401(k), keeps $6,162 a month in Boston (26.1% of pay goes to tax) and $6,598 a month in Austin (20.8%). The difference is +$437 a month before housing; after the typical rent in each city, Austin leaves more each month, by $1,372.
| Per year unless noted | Boston | Austin | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax and payroll tax | $20,820 | $20,820 | +$0 |
| State and local taxes | $5,240 | $0 | -$5,240 |
| Take-home pay a year | $73,940 | $79,180 | +$5,240 |
| Take-home pay a month | $6,162 | $6,598 | +$437 |
| Typical rent (Census, recent movers) | $2,605 | $1,670 | -$935 |
| Left each month after rent | $3,557 | $4,928 | +$1,372 |
Local taxes involved
- Boston: MA state income tax of $4,780, employee-paid state programs (Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (employee share)) of $460.
- Austin: no TX state income tax on wages.
- If you buy: effective property tax is about 0.61% of home value in Boston and 1.44% in Austin, on typical recent-buyer home values of $735,900 and $607,200.
Computed with the site's 2026 tax engine; rent and home values are from the U.S. Census Bureau (2020 to 2024 American Community Survey). Planning estimate, not tax advice. Try your own salary and costs in the calculator.
$1,702 a month more · $7,340 upfront
Leave a field blank to use the estimate shown in it. These feed cash needed upfront and the time to earn back the cost.
Is your household better off after this move?
Boston → Austin, comparing what you keep each month now and after the move.
Monthly change
+$1,702
Range +$770 to +$2,634
First-year impact
+$16,426
12 months of change minus $4,000 spent. Range +$4,246 to +$28,606
Cash needed upfront
$7,340
Includes a refundable deposit. Range $5,505 to $9,175
Time to earn back the cost
3 mo
Best case 2 mo, worst case 7 mo
Why it changes, per month
No separate current income entered, so pay is assumed unchanged. Enter your current salary in the field above to include a raise or pay cut.
| Per month | Now | After the move |
|---|---|---|
| Take-home pay | $7,931 | $8,533 |
| Left over after housing and other costs | $3,506 | $5,208 |
The range changes only figures this site estimated: housing by 10%, living costs by 15% and one-time costs by 25%, in the worse direction for the low end and the better direction for the high end. Figures you typed do not move. These spreads are planning assumptions.
Estimated by this site, not entered by you
Living costs in both cities are also estimates. Enter your own in the living-cost fields above to replace the new city's.
Example results from sample inputs. Change any field to see your own numbers.
This move leaves you about $1,702 more each month.
You will need about $7,340 upfront, including refundable deposits. The one-time costs are earned back in about 3 months.
8 of these figures are estimates. Replace them with your own in the fields on the left to firm up the answer.
This move looks financially healthy based on your inputs.
| Case | Monthly change | Cash upfront | Months to earn back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costs higher than estimated | +$770 | $9,175 | 7 |
| As estimated | +$1,702 | $7,340 | 3 |
| Costs lower than estimated | +$2,634 | $5,505 | 2 |
| Metric | Boston | Austin |
|---|---|---|
| Net monthly | $7,931 | $8,533 |
| Housing | $2,775est. | $1,840 |
| Essentials | $1,650 | $1,485 |
| Left after essentials | $3,506 | $5,208 |
Austin is roughly 16% less expensive than Boston.
$150,000 is at or above what's typically needed to match your current budget in Austin, which is 16% less expensive than Boston. You may have room to negotiate for equity, remote flexibility, or other terms instead of base salary.
City data and planning assumptions are starting estimates. Replace them with a real rent quote, your own bills and moving quotes in the fields on the left to firm up the answer.
- Offer salary$150,000Sample value
- Current salaryEnter your current salary if it differsSame as offerPlanning assumption
- Monthly rent in the new city$1,670City data
- GroceriesNational budget scaled by the city's BEA price level$564/moCity data
- UtilitiesNational budget scaled by the city's BEA price level$138/moCity data
- TransportationNational budget scaled by the city's BEA price level$282/moCity data
- Dining out$300/moPlanning assumption
- Subscriptions and misc$200/moPlanning assumption
- Movers or truck$1,500Planning assumption
- Travel and storage$500Planning assumption
- Furniture and setup$2,000Planning assumption
- Refundable deposit$3,340Planning assumption
City data · Planning assumption · Sample value. City data is published Census or BEA data for the city you chose; where BEA price levels scale the site's national budgets, the budget itself is a planning assumption. Planning assumptions are the site's starting estimates, not quotes or forecasts. Sample values are placeholders until you enter your own.
Who moves from Massachusetts to Texas
In the latest IRS migration data (2022-23), 4,218 households (6,913 people) filed their taxes in Texas after filing in Massachusetts the year before. Texas ranks number 7 among the states people leave Massachusetts for. These households reported an average adjusted gross income of $110,422. Going the other way, 3,394 households moved from Texas to Massachusetts, a net gain of 824 households for Texas.
Five-year trend
Moves from Massachusetts to Texas peaked in 2021-22 at 4,594 households, then fell 8% by 2022-23. That is up 26% from 2018-19.
| 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,344 | 3,549 | 4,104 | 4,594 | 4,218 |
Where people from Massachusetts actually move
- Florida: 12,159 households
- New York: 11,027 households
- New Hampshire: 10,603 households
- California: 7,767 households
- Rhode Island: 6,510 households
- Connecticut: 6,006 households
- Texas: 4,218 households
- North Carolina: 3,483 households
Source: IRS Statistics of Income state-to-state migration files, tax years 2018-19 to 2022-23. The IRS publishes state totals, not city-to-city moves, and counts only people who filed a return in both years.
2026 taxes on $100,000: Boston and Austin
| Measure | Boston | Austin | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $13,170 | $13,170 | +$0 |
| Social Security and Medicare | $7,650 | $7,650 | +$0 |
| State income tax | $4,780 | $0 | -$4,780 |
| City income tax | $0 | $0 | +$0 |
| State payroll programs | $460 | $0 | -$460 |
| Take-home pay | $73,940 | $79,180 | +$5,240 |
| Share of pay paid in tax | 26.1% | 20.8% |
Single filer, wages only, standard deduction, no 401(k) contribution. Federal figures follow IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32; state and city rules are listed on the methodology page.
Boston vs Austin take-home pay at every salary
The salary needed in Austin to match each Boston salary, and take-home pay in both cities.
| Salary | Equal salary in Austin | Take-home change | Take-home in Boston | Take-home in Austin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $42,200 | +$2,510 | $39,845 | $42,355 |
| $75,000 | $62,400 | +$3,875 | $57,718 | $61,593 |
| $100,000 | $82,600 | +$5,240 | $73,940 | $79,180 |
| $150,000 | $123,800 | +$7,970 | $105,821 | $113,791 |
| $250,000 | $206,900 | +$13,129 | $170,053 | $183,182 |
"Equal salary" keeps the same after-tax buying power: after-tax pay divided by the local price level is the same in both cities. At higher incomes, itemizing deductions (such as state and local taxes) can lower federal tax and narrow the gap shown.
Cost of living: Boston vs Austin
| Measure | Boston | Austin | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 108.3 | 98.1 | -10.2 |
| Housing price level | 148.4 | 120.4 | -28.1 |
| Utilities price level | 148.8 | 82.0 | -66.7 |
| Goods price level | 99.7 | 93.8 | -5.9 |
| Typical rent (monthly) | $2,605 | $1,670 | -$935 |
| Typical home value | $735,900 | $607,200 | -$128,700 |
| Median property tax paid (yearly) | $4,456 | $8,024 | +$3,568 |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.61% | 1.44% | |
| Residential electricity (cents per kWh) | 30.14 | 16.06 | -14.08 |
Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for each city's metro area (2024 Regional Price Parities (Bureau of Economic Analysis, released February 2026)). Rent, home value and property tax are U.S. Census Bureau figures (2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (Census Bureau, released December 2025)). Typical rent and home value use recent movers where the sample is reliable, so they reflect what a new renter or buyer pays now.
Renting and buying: Boston vs Austin
| Measure | Boston | Austin | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income to rent the typical home (30% rule) | $104,200 | $66,800 | -$37,400 |
| Monthly cost to own the typical home (20% down) | $4,245 | $3,949 | -$296 |
| Income to buy the typical home (28% rule) | $181,930 | $169,230 | -$12,700 |
Owning cost is the mortgage payment on the typical home with 20% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% (the calculator's starting rate, not a quote), plus the city's typical property tax rate and $150 a month for insurance. HOA fees and maintenance are not included. The calculator below lets you change the rate, down payment and prices.
Your yearly budget: Boston vs Austin
On $100,000 the taxes and housing you can compare directly come to $57,320 a year in Boston and $40,860 in Austin if you rent: $16,460 less after the move.
| Measure | Boston | Austin | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes | $26,060 | $20,820 | -$5,240 |
| If you rent: yearly rent | $31,260 | $20,040 | -$11,220 |
| Taxes plus rent | $57,320 | $40,860 | -$16,460 |
| If you buy: mortgage, property tax and insurance | $50,941 | $47,384 | -$3,557 |
| Taxes plus owning the home | $77,001 | $68,204 | -$8,797 |
Not included: food, transportation, car and health insurance, child care, utilities beyond those in gross rent, sales tax and one-time moving costs. These are the costs the tax and housing data can compare, not total spending. Use the calculator below for moving costs and the full monthly budget.
Where to go next
- See the FIRE impact: enter your own numbers and use the Move tab to see how a different cost of living changes your timeline.
- Rank cities for FIRE: see which cities get you there soonest.
- Plan it in detail: model withdrawals, taxes and Social Security year by year (Beta).
Frequently asked questions
- How much salary do I need in Austin to live like I do in Boston?
- A $100,000 salary in Boston has about the same buying power as $82,600 in Austin once 2026 federal, state and local taxes and BEA regional price levels are counted.
- Will I pay less tax in Austin than in Boston?
- Yes: on $100,000 a single filer pays $5,240 a year less in income and payroll taxes in Austin (20.8% of pay, against 26.1% in Boston). Property tax and sales tax are shown separately.
- Is Austin cheaper than Boston?
- Overall prices in the Austin area are 9.4% lower than in the Boston area (BEA Regional Price Parities). Typical rent is $1,670 a month in Austin against $2,605 in Boston.
- How much income do I need to rent or buy in Austin?
- To keep rent at 30% of income, about $66,800 a year covers the typical rent of $1,670. Owning the typical home with 20% down costs about $3,949 a month, which takes about $169,230 a year at 28% of income.
- How many people move from Massachusetts to Texas?
- IRS migration data for 2022-23 show 4,218 households (6,913 people) that filed in Massachusetts the year before filing in Texas. Texas ranks number 7 among destinations for people leaving Massachusetts. 3,394 households moved the other way. These are state totals, not city totals.
Sources and limits
Written and maintained by Relocation By Numbers. Figures were generated on 2026-10-13 from the sources below, and the tax rules are those for tax year 2026. Full methodology
- IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32: 2026 tax brackets and standard deduction
- IRS Publication 15 (2026): Social Security wage base and payroll tax rates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (Census Bureau, released December 2025)): rent, home value and property tax
- Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities (2024 Regional Price Parities (Bureau of Economic Analysis, released February 2026))
- IRS Statistics of Income, state-to-state migration data (2018-19 to 2022-23)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B (Year-to-date through July 2026, released September 24, 2026)
- State and city income tax rules, by state
Not included
- Itemized deductions, tax credits and dependents; the figures are for a single filer on wages.
- Neighborhood-level rent and home prices, which can differ widely from a city median.
- Moving costs, car costs, health insurance, child care, food and sales tax.
Was this helpful? What's missing?
How to read this Boston vs Austin comparison
Start with take-home pay
Because this move crosses state lines, start by checking whether the change in state tax treatment materially improves take-home pay.
Then check housing pressure
Housing is usually the largest expense in a move. A tax win can disappear fast if rent, home prices, insurance, or ownership costs rise enough.
Focus on monthly flexibility
The most useful question is simple: after essential costs, do you have more room, less room, or roughly the same room in your budget?
Who this comparison is most useful for
Best for Boston renters, and for buyers who want to test the property tax effect
This comparison is useful for people leaving a Boston rental, and for owners who want to see how much a higher Texas property tax rate takes back from a lower home price.
What this comparison includes, and what it does not
Included
- Estimated state and federal tax differences
- Housing-related affordability differences
- Monthly budget comparison between the two cities
- Comparable salary planning estimate
Not fully modeled
- Neighborhood-level rent variation
- Childcare, school, or family-specific costs
- Detailed insurance and healthcare variation
- One-time moving or closing costs
This page is built for planning direction and tradeoffs, not perfect prediction. It is most useful as a first-pass comparison before you plug in exact housing and household numbers.
Boston vs Austin, common questions
- Is Austin cheaper than Boston?
- It depends on your income, housing choice, and monthly cost structure. This page compares both cities using the same salary assumptions so you can see whether the destination actually improves affordability for your situation.
- How does moving from Boston to Austin affect taxes?
- Because this move crosses state lines, state tax treatment can change your take-home pay. The calculator applies each state's tax rules so you can compare the net effect more realistically.
- What salary do I need in Austin to match my lifestyle in Boston?
- The comparable salary estimate is designed to show the gross income you may need in Austin to maintain a similar monthly budget after taxes, housing, and core cost differences are considered.
- Why is housing such a big part of this comparison?
- Because housing is usually the biggest recurring expense in a move. In many cases, it matters more than the salary headline and can either reinforce or erase a tax advantage.
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