Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Green Bay?

Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $29,000 in Green Bay.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Green Bay?

Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Austin vs Green Bay Cost of Living 2026

Austin

Texas

$1,660/mo est.

Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/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 $920 in Green Bay, WI. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Austin, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $62,546 in Green Bay, WI — about 32% higher in Austin, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Austin, TX

Green Bay, WI

Rent

Studio

$1,348

$707

+48% in Austin, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,457

$730

+50% in Austin, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,776

$956

+46% in Austin, TX

3 Bedroom

$2,127

$1,287

+39% in Austin, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$512,700

$191,500

+63% in Austin, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$91,461

$62,546

+32% in Austin, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,950

$49,940

+12% in Austin, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

35.7 yr

+1.2 yr in Green Bay, WI

Homeownership

44.4%

55.9%

+11.5 pp in Green Bay, WI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.2%

25.5%

+32.7 pp in Austin, TX

Avg Commute

24.0 min

18.9 min

+5.1 min in Austin, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

476.1

501.7

+5% in Green Bay, WI

Property Crime

3,290.7

1,331.2

+60% 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

44.3°F

+22.9°F in Austin, TX

Annual Precipitation

34.9 in

29.5 in

+5.4 in in Austin, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Green Bay, WI

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

19.7

+20% in Green Bay, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$11.79

+61% in Austin, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Green Bay, WI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Austin, TX

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Green Bay, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Green Bay, WI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Green Bay, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / WI)

6.25%

+1.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

7.65%

+7.7 pp in WI

Austin vs Green Bay — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Green Bay?: Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Green Bay?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $29,000 in Green Bay.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Green Bay?: Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).