City comparison
San Francisco vs Austin Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Francisco (177.2) and Austin (116.9).
San Francisco Index
177.2
Austin Index
116.9
San Francisco Rent
$5,250
Austin Rent
$2,675
San Francisco Home price
$935,000
Austin Home price
$484,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Francisco to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Austin.
Equivalent salary in Austin
$98,956
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Francisco and Austin.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Francisco | Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 276 | 146 | -130.0 (-47.1%) |
| Groceries | 137 | 103 | -34.0 (-24.8%) |
| Transportation | 125 | 102 | -23.0 (-18.4%) |
| Healthcare | 114 | 99 | -15.0 (-13.2%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 98 | -14.0 (-12.5%) |
| Miscellaneous | 132 | 104 | -28.0 (-21.2%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,510 / $5,310
San Francisco / Austin
Couple
$14,470 / $8,810
San Francisco / Austin
Family
$21,280 / $12,430
San Francisco / Austin
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Francisco city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Francisco.
View Austin city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Austin.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.