Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Columbus?

Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Austin, TX's $1,650, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $42,000 in Columbus.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Columbus?

Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Columbus under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax).

Austin vs Columbus Cost of Living 2026

Austin

Texas

$1,650/mo est.

Columbus

Ohio

$1,250/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,650 in Austin, TX versus $1,250 in Columbus, OH. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Austin, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $65,327 in Columbus, OH — about 29% higher in Austin, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Austin, TX

Columbus, OH

Rent

Studio

$1,348

$1,014

+25% in Austin, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,457

$1,059

+27% in Austin, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,776

$1,276

+28% in Austin, TX

3 Bedroom

$2,127

$1,369

+36% in Austin, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$512,700

$234,500

+54% in Austin, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$91,461

$65,327

+29% in Austin, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,950

$51,340

+10% in Austin, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

33.0 yr

+1.5 yr in Austin, TX

Homeownership

44.4%

44.3%

+0.1 pp in Austin, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.2%

38.2%

+20.0 pp in Austin, TX

Avg Commute

24.0 min

21.8 min

+2.2 min in Austin, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

475.9

484.8

+2% in Columbus, OH

Property Crime

3,290.2

3,092.7

+6% 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

52.7°F

+14.5°F in Austin, TX

Annual Precipitation

34.9 in

40.1 in

+5.2 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$4.56/gal

+15% in Columbus, OH

Area: Texas vs Ohio.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

$2.00

+60% in Columbus, OH

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

18.8

+15% in Columbus, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$13.75

+44% in Austin, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.14

+1% in Austin, TX

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$1.79

+4% in Columbus, OH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Columbus, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$6.97

+6% in Columbus, OH

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.15

+13% in Columbus, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.63

+3% in Columbus, OH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / OH)

6.25%

5.75%

+0.5 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.75%

+2.8 pp in OH

Austin vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Columbus?: Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Austin, TX's $1,650, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Columbus?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $42,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Columbus?: Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Columbus under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).