How much do you need to earn to live here, after U.S.A. takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once U.S.A.'s tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Austin is roughly $2,913/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think $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
Second-hand 1BR 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
All 9 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
Explore AustinPlug in what you'd really earn. Get your take-home pay, neighborhoods within reach, and monthly savings.
Open calculatorTaxes, nearby cities, and side-by-sides.
We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after U.S.A.'s income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
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.