How much do you need to earn to live in Austin? We calculate the gross monthly salary required to cover rent, food, transport, and utilities — accounting for U.S.A.'s tax system.
You need at least $2,913/month gross to live in Austin on a budget.
For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $3,725/month gross ($3,163 net after ~15% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $1,500 Cheapest neighborhood (Round Rock) | $2,000 Median neighborhood | $2,150 Premium neighborhood (Clarksville) |
| Groceries | $475 | $570 | $713 |
| Transport | $41 | $41 | $41 |
| Utilities | $210 | $210 | $210 |
| Dining & Entertainment | $285 | $342 | $428 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | $2,511 | $3,163 | $3,542 |
$2,913/month gross
$3,725/month gross
$4,197/month gross
1-bedroom second-hand rents across 9 neighborhoods in Austin
Round Rock
35 min by car
$1,500 - $1,700
Hyde Park
12 min by bus
$1,600 - $1,900
East Austin
10 min by bus
$1,700 - $2,100
Clarksville
10 min by walk
$2,000 - $2,300
Downtown Austin
5 min by walk
$2,000 - $2,300
South Congress (SoCo)
10 min by bus
$1,900 - $2,200
See all 9 neighborhoods, detailed expense breakdowns, and savings projections.
Explore AustinEnter your actual salary to see your take-home pay, affordable neighborhoods, and savings potential.
Open calculatorWe total monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then reverse-calculate the gross salary needed to cover those expenses after U.S.A.'s income tax and social contributions. Rent data comes from second-hand market listings (what expats actually pay). All figures are based on 2026 data from official government statistics. See our data sources for full attribution.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least $2,913/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Austin. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $3,725/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for U.S.A..
The average 1-bedroom rent across 9 neighborhoods in Austin is approximately $1,939/month. Rents range from $1,500 in Round Rock to $2,300 in Clarksville.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Austin cost approximately $475. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in U.S.A. are progressive. At the budget salary level of $2,913/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 14%. At the comfortable level of $3,725/month, it rises to approximately 15%. This includes income tax and social contributions.