Los Angeles vs Austin
Side-by-side comparison of cost of living, state income tax, housing estimates, and salary equivalents between Los Angeles, CA and Austin, TX.
Los Angeles, CA
COL Index
166
Monthly Budget
$8,300
State Tax
13.3%
Population
3.9M
Austin, TX
COL Index
112
Monthly Budget
$5,600
State Tax
None
Population
1.0M
Los Angeles is 48% more expensive than Austin
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly costs for a typical household in each city.
| Category | Los Angeles | Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $3,283 | $1,947 | +$1,336 |
| Groceries | $993 | $712 | +$281 |
| Transport | $1,275 | $886 | +$389 |
| Healthcare | $585 | $434 | +$151 |
| Utilities | $498 | $336 | +$162 |
| Other | $1,834 | $1,315 | +$519 |
| Total | $8,300 | $5,600 | +$2,700 |
Tax Comparison on $100K Salary
Estimated annual taxes for a single filer earning $100,000 in each city.
| Component | Los Angeles (CA) | Austin (TX) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Tax | $13,170 | $13,170 | $0 |
| State Tax | $5,739 | $0 | +$5,739 |
| FICA | $7,650 | $7,650 | $0 |
| Total Tax | $26,559 | $20,820 | +$5,739 |
| Take-Home Pay | $73,441 | $79,180 | -$5,739 |
Salary Equivalent
What a Los Angeles salary is worth in Austin (and vice versa), adjusted for cost of living.
| Los Angeles Salary | Equivalent in Austin | Austin Salary | Equivalent in Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $33,735 | $50,000 | $74,107 |
| $75,000 | $50,602 | $75,000 | $111,161 |
| $100,000 | $67,470 | $100,000 | $148,214 |
| $150,000 | $101,205 | $150,000 | $222,321 |
Los Angeles vs Austin: What the Numbers Say
Austin is the cheaper of the two, at a cost-of-living index of 112 versus 166 for Los Angeles. On our model's $5,000 national-average monthly budget, that works out to about $2,700 more per month (48% more) in Los Angeles. The largest single gap is housing, at roughly $1,336 per month.
On state income tax alone (single filer, our bracket data): at $75,000 you would owe $0 in Texas versus $3,414 in California; at $150,000 it is $0 versus $10,389.
Break-even: a $100,000 salary in Austin leaves about $79,180 a year after federal, state, and FICA tax. To keep the same purchasing power in Los Angeles, you would need about $117,356 after tax, which means a gross salary near $173,630. This assumes a single filer taking the standard deduction and uses one index for all spending, so treat it as a starting point, not a quote.