Living Cost Compare
Augusta

Georgia

$1,120/mo est.

vs
Austin

Texas

$1,660/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Augusta, GA versus $1,660 in Austin, TX. Overall, Augusta, GA is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Austin, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,134 in Augusta, GA and $91,461 in Austin, TX — about 42% higher in Austin, TX. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Augusta, GA
Austin, TX

Rent

Studio
$784
$1,348
+72% in Austin, TX
1 Bedroom
$916
$1,457
+59% in Austin, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,035
$1,776
+72% in Austin, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,230
$2,127
+73% in Austin, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$162,900
$512,700
+215% in Austin, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$53,134
$91,461
+72% in Austin, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,990
$56,950
+24% in Austin, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
34.5 yr
+0.4 yr in Augusta, GA
Homeownership
50.9%
44.4%
+6.5 pp in Augusta, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.2%
58.2%
+34.0 pp in Austin, TX
Avg Commute
20.6 min
24.0 min
+3.4 min in Austin, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
546.7
476.1
+13% in Augusta, GA
Property Crime
3,652
3,290.7
+10% in Augusta, GA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.2°F
67.2°F
+2.0°F in Austin, TX
Annual Precipitation
46.5 in
34.9 in
+11.7 in in Augusta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Augusta, GA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs CapMetro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
16.4
+4% in Austin, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$30.48
+8% in Augusta, GA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / TX)
4%
6.25%
+2.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
None
+5.2 pp in GA

Augusta vs Austin — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Augusta or Austin?
Augusta, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Augusta than in Austin?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $37,000 a year in Augusta versus $58,000 in Austin.
Which has lower taxes, Augusta or Austin?
Augusta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Austin under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).