Cost of Living
Cost of Living in Austin, Texas: A Census-Based Breakdown
Austin is no longer a cheap Texas city. We break down what living in Austin actually costs by ZIP, using ACS5 housing, income, and demographic data — with the trade-offs for relocators.
By City Zip Compare Editorial · May 19, 2026 · 11 min read
Austin spent 30 years as a 'cheap, weird, Californian-friendly Texas tech town.' The first part of that pitch is no longer true. Median home value in Travis County now sits well above the Texas state median, and several inner-city Austin ZIPs are competitive with second-tier California metros on price. This guide breaks down what Austin actually costs in 2026, using Census ACS5 data, with the ZIP-level detail relocators need.
Housing — the headline cost
Travis County median home value (B25077) sits in the mid-$500,000s, with several inner-city ZIPs north of $700,000:
78704 (South Lamar / South Congress / Zilker): historically Austin's coolest neighborhood, now with median home value pushing $800,000.
78702 (East Austin): the most-gentrified ZIP in Austin over the last decade, median home value now in the high $600,000s.
78751 (Hyde Park / North Loop): inner-north classic Austin, median home value $700,000+.
78703 (Tarrytown / Clarksville): Austin's old-money inner west, median home value over $1.2M.
Where the value is
Outside the inner core, Austin's outer ring offers meaningfully better value:
Pflugerville (78660): median home value in the $400,000s, strong school districts, fast-growing.
Manor (78653): median home value in the high $300,000s, the cheapest commuter ZIP within reasonable distance of downtown.
Buda (78610) and Kyle (78640): south-of-Austin commuter towns, mid-$400,000s home value, growing fast.
Round Rock (78664, 78665, 78681): mature suburban market, mid-$400,000s home value, anchored by Dell and major employers.
Rent
Median gross rent (B25064) in central Austin ZIPs sits in the high-$1,800s. The outer ring drops to the high $1,300s — $1,500s. Note: ACS5 captures all rent contracts including long-tenured leases, so newly listed market rent is typically higher.
Income vs. cost
Travis County's median household income is high (well above $90,000), but Austin's home-value-to-income ratio has deteriorated faster than any other major Texas metro. Five years ago Austin had a healthier ratio than DFW or Houston; today it's worse than both.
The implication for relocators: Austin's quality of life and labor market remain among the strongest in the South, but the affordability case relative to other Texas metros is gone. Houston and DFW now offer better value for most household types.
Total cost of living
Beyond housing, Austin's other living costs (groceries, utilities, transportation) sit roughly at or slightly above the U.S. average per BLS regional data — driven up modestly by demand pressure on services. Texas's lack of state income tax remains the biggest structural cost advantage.
Frequently asked
›Is Austin still affordable?
Compared to coastal California or the Northeast, yes. Compared to the rest of Texas — including Houston, San Antonio, and DFW — no. Austin's affordability premise has fundamentally changed.
›Where in Austin is cheapest?
The eastern and southeastern outer ring (Manor, Del Valle, Elgin) and the northern outer ring (Pflugerville). Within the inner city, ZIPs east of I-35 (78721, 78724) remain the cheapest.
›Should I move to Austin or another Texas city?
If your job requires Austin (tech, state government, UT), the math works. If you have flexibility, San Antonio, Houston, or DFW will give you more house and better cost-of-living for similar pay.
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Data: census.gov/programs-surveys/acs.