Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land

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 Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, you'd need:

$57,930

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 126.4
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land 106.3
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos $32,079
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land $41,299

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$18,876
Net Income $43,883

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

$84,936

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $3,348 more per year in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land compared to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, while housing costs 15% less. The cost of living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is 26% above avg, while Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is 6% above avg, making Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos feels like earning $57,930 in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land ($22,621 vs $12,254 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land
Schools
541
1,666
Enrollment
345,378
1,323,488
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
13.8%
10.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land
Institutions
31
79
In-State Tuition
$22,621
$12,254
Out-of-State
$28,276
$15,961
Grad Rate
58.5%
56.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos or Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land more expensive?

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is more expensive with a cost of living index of 126.4 vs 106.3 (national average = 100).

What salary in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land equals $70,000 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos?

You would need to earn approximately $57,930 in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land 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 Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,224 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and $18,876 in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land—housing is 15% less in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land.