Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Columbus

Cost of Living Comparison

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$22,224
Net Income $40,535

To match your lifestyle in Columbus, you'd need:

$49,738

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 126.4
Columbus 87.1
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos $32,079
Columbus $50,963

Columbus

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$8,450
Rent (2BR) -$17,160
Net Income $44,390

To match your lifestyle in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, you'd need:

$100,592

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $3,855 more per year in Columbus compared to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos. You'd pay $1,209 more in taxes in Columbus, while housing costs 23% less. The cost of living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is 26% above avg, while Columbus is 13% below avg, making Columbus the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos feels like earning $49,738 in Columbus once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Columbus has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Columbus ($22,621 vs $21,301 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Columbus
Schools
541
605
Enrollment
345,378
321,555
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
13.8%
11.4%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Columbus
Institutions
31
40
In-State Tuition
$22,621
$21,301
Out-of-State
$28,276
$23,899
Grad Rate
58.5%
57.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos or Columbus more expensive?

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is more expensive with a cost of living index of 126.4 vs 87.1 (national average = 100).

What salary in Columbus equals $70,000 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos?

You would need to earn approximately $49,738 in Columbus to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Columbus?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,224 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and $17,160 in Columbus—housing is 23% less in Columbus.