Is Austin expensive?

Austin is not expensive, it’s actually a bit cheaper than the average US city. With a cost multiplier of 0.98x, your money goes slightly further here than in the rest of the country. This means for every $100 you'd spend nationally, you'd spend $98 in Austin. Housing is the biggest factor, being about 8% lower than the national average. Groceries and utilities are also a bit cheaper, around 3-5% less. For example, a typical 1-bedroom apartment might rent for $1,500 in Austin compared to $1,630 nationally. Texas has no state income tax, which is a huge advantage. However, property taxes are higher to compensate, averaging around 1.69% of a home's value. Sales tax is 8.25%. Overall, the lack of income tax makes Austin quite appealing for higher earners. If you're considering Austin, factor in the no-income tax benefit, especially if you're coming from a high-tax state. Your take-home pay could be significantly higher.