San Francisco vs Austin
Side-by-side comparison of cost of living, state income tax, housing estimates, and salary equivalents between San Francisco, CA and Austin, TX.
San Francisco, CA
COL Index
179
Monthly Budget
$8,950
State Tax
13.3%
Population
0.8M
Austin, TX
COL Index
112
Monthly Budget
$5,600
State Tax
None
Population
1.0M
San Francisco is 60% more expensive than Austin
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly costs for a typical household in each city.
| Category | San Francisco | Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $3,605 | $1,947 | +$1,658 |
| Groceries | $1,061 | $712 | +$349 |
| Transport | $1,369 | $886 | +$483 |
| Healthcare | $621 | $434 | +$187 |
| Utilities | $537 | $336 | +$201 |
| Other | $1,958 | $1,315 | +$643 |
| Total | $8,950 | $5,600 | +$3,350 |
Tax Comparison on $100K Salary
Estimated annual taxes for a single filer earning $100,000 in each city.
| Component | San Francisco (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 San Francisco salary is worth in Austin (and vice versa), adjusted for cost of living.
| San Francisco Salary | Equivalent in Austin | Austin Salary | Equivalent in San Francisco |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $31,285 | $50,000 | $79,911 |
| $75,000 | $46,927 | $75,000 | $119,866 |
| $100,000 | $62,570 | $100,000 | $159,821 |
| $150,000 | $93,855 | $150,000 | $239,732 |
San Francisco vs Austin: What the Numbers Say
Austin is the cheaper of the two, at a cost-of-living index of 112 versus 179 for San Francisco. On our model's $5,000 national-average monthly budget, that works out to about $3,350 more per month (60% more) in San Francisco. The largest single gap is housing, at roughly $1,658 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 San Francisco, you would need about $126,547 after tax, which means a gross salary near $188,749. 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.
Related reading: Cost of Living: San Francisco vs Austin in 2026