Lifestyle Intelligence

Cost of Living · San Francisco vs Austin

Compare rent pressure, discretionary drift, and monthly budgets across two sovereign hubs before you sign the relocation package.

San Francisco

Cost-of-living

Rent index

Estimated median professional income: $78,500

Austin

Cost-of-living

Rent index

Estimated median professional income: $78,500

Spread

Index delta

+28.8

San Francisco is 29 points more expensive on our deterministic index.

San Francisco

The epicenter of global technology, offering the highest base salaries adjusted for a fiercely competitive housing market.

Reference monthly net: $5,247

Housing pressure

35% of take-home pay devoted to housing.

Austin

A rapidly expanding tech hub benefiting from Texas’s zero state income tax policy.

Reference monthly net: $5,247

Housing pressure

35% of take-home pay devoted to housing.

Monthly allocation

Budget blueprint

San Francisco

Monthly net $5,247

Housing$1,836

Essentials$1,574

Lifestyle$1,049

Savings$787

Austin

Monthly net $5,247

Housing$1,836

Essentials$1,574

Lifestyle$1,049

Savings$787

Launch salary comparison

Overlay net pay, taxes, and PPP for your exact role in this city pair.

Open salary route

Download relocation memo

Summarize the lifestyle delta for executive stakeholders in under a minute.

Access engine

Frequently asked

Is San Francisco more expensive than Austin?+

San Francisco posts a cost-of-living score of 96 with rent at 98. Austin sits at 67 / 56. The spread is driven by housing (41.3 points) and imported services.

What income do I need to maintain lifestyle parity?+

Using a reference salary of $78,500, the take-home pay differs by $0. Adjust offers upward if relocating to the more expensive hub.

How much of my income should go to rent?+

Allocating 30% of monthly net is sustainable in Austin, while San Francisco may require closer to 35% unless allowances are provided.