Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Boston?

Austin, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,660 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Boston?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $79,000 in Boston.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Boston?

Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Boston under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Austin vs Boston Cost of Living 2026

Austin

Texas

$1,660/mo est.

Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,660 in Austin, TX versus $2,290 in Boston, MA. Overall, Austin, TX is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $94,755 in Boston, MA — about 3% higher in Boston, MA. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Austin, TX

Boston, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,348

$1,890

+40% in Boston, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,457

$1,978

+36% in Boston, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,776

$2,155

+21% in Boston, MA

3 Bedroom

$2,127

$2,234

+5% in Boston, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$512,700

$710,400

+39% in Boston, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$91,461

$94,755

+4% in Boston, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,950

$66,620

+17% in Boston, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

33.2 yr

+1.3 yr in Austin, TX

Homeownership

44.4%

35.4%

+9.0 pp in Austin, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.2%

54.1%

+4.1 pp in Austin, TX

Avg Commute

24.0 min

30.2 min

+6.2 min in Boston, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

476.1

630.2

+32% in Boston, MA

Property Crime

3,290.7

2,030.8

+38% in Austin, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

51.5°F

+15.7°F in Austin, TX

Annual Precipitation

34.9 in

43.8 in

+8.9 in in Boston, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.95/gal

+9% in Boston, MA

Area: Texas vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

28.8

+75% in Boston, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$31.39

+3% in Boston, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Boston, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Boston, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Austin, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Boston, MA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Boston, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Boston, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / MA)

6.25%

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.00%

+9.0 pp in MA

Austin vs Boston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Boston?: Austin, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,660 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Boston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $79,000 in Boston.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Boston?: Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Boston under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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).