Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Dallas County, TX would need to be about $41,565 in Austin County, TX, or $8,435 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Dallas County, TX vs Austin County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Austin County, TX is cheaper than Dallas County, TX.
Moving to Austin County, TX is estimated to save $9,030 per year.
Cheaper County
Austin County, TXSave about $9,030 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Dallas County, TX is about $41,565 in Austin County, TX.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $2,683 per year. Housing saves $7,787 per year.
Housing: $7,787 lower in Austin County, TX
Taxes: $1,809 lower in Austin County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $571 higher in Austin County, TX
Food: $207 lower in Austin County, TX
Transport: $2,683 higher in Austin County, TX
Dallas County, TX→Austin County, TX
Equivalent salary in Austin County, TX
$41,565
-16.87% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Dallas County, TX: $85,452
Median Income in Austin County, TX: $95,354
Living Index in Dallas County, TX 62.63%
Living Index in Austin County, TX 46.65%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Dallas County, TX to Austin County, TX.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Dallas County, TX to Austin County, TX is estimated to save $9,030 per year. A $50,000 salary in Dallas County, TX would have similar purchasing power to about $41,565 in Austin County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and other costs.
This is a -16.87% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $7,787 per year lower (-44.72%); Other Costs is $2,482 per year lower (-37.39%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Dallas County, TX and Austin County, TX, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 62.6% of median family income in Dallas County, TX and 46.7% in Austin County, TX. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $7,787 per year lower in Austin County, TX than in Dallas County, TX. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Austin County, TX changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $207 per year lower in Austin County, TX than in Dallas County, TX. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Austin County, TX can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $2,683 per year higher in Austin County, TX than in Dallas County, TX. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Austin County, TX.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $571 per year higher in Austin County, TX than in Dallas County, TX. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Austin County, TX changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,482 per year lower in Austin County, TX than in Dallas County, TX. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Austin County, TX help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Dallas County, TX and Austin County, TX, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Austin County, TX, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $1,809 per year lower in Austin County, TX than in Dallas County, TX. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Austin County, TX matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Austin County, TX.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Austin County, TX
Annual Increase:
$2,683 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Austin County, TX.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Austin County, TX
Annual Savings:
$7,787 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Austin County, TX.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -45% lower | |
| Food | -5% lower | |
| Transport | 23% higher | |
| Healthcare | 11% higher | |
| Other Costs | -37% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -21% lower |
In Austin County, TX, modeled annual costs are $44,487 compared with $53,517 in Dallas County, TX.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Austin County, TX. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Austin County, TX and Dallas County, TX are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
