Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara

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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, you'd need:

$143,634

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 126.4
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara 213.0
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos $32,079
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara $8,570

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$9,953
Rent (2BR) -$41,796
Net Income $18,251

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

$35,306

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $22,284 more per year in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos compared to San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara. You'd pay $2,712 more in taxes in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, while housing costs 88% more. The cost of living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is 26% above avg, while San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara is 113% above avg, making Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos feels like earning $143,634 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ($22,621 vs $14,833 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
Schools
541
396
Enrollment
345,378
282,880
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
13.8%
5%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
Institutions
31
25
In-State Tuition
$22,621
$14,833
Out-of-State
$28,276
$20,736
Grad Rate
58.5%
60.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos or San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara more expensive?

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara is more expensive with a cost of living index of 213.0 vs 126.4 (national average = 100).

What salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara equals $70,000 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos?

You would need to earn approximately $143,634 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,224 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and $41,796 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara—housing is 88% more in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara.