Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Orange County, CA would need to be about $26,660 in Austin County, TX, or $23,340 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Orange County, CA vs Austin County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Austin County, TX is cheaper than Orange County, CA.
Moving to Austin County, TX is estimated to save $38,951 per year.
Cheaper County
Austin County, TXSave about $38,951 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Orange County, CA is about $26,660 in Austin County, TX.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $491 per year. Housing saves $18,600 per year.
Housing: $18,600 lower in Austin County, TX
Taxes: $14,249 lower in Austin County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $240 higher in Austin County, TX
Food: $807 lower in Austin County, TX
Transport: $491 higher in Austin County, TX
Orange County, CA→Austin County, TX
Equivalent salary in Austin County, TX
$26,660
-46.68% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Orange County, CA: $128,689
Median Income in Austin County, TX: $95,354
Living Index in Orange County, CA 64.84%
Living Index in Austin County, TX 46.65%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Orange County, CA 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 Orange County, CA to Austin County, TX is estimated to save $38,951 per year. A $50,000 salary in Orange County, CA would have similar purchasing power to about $26,660 in Austin County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -46.68% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $18,600 per year lower (-65.9%); Taxes is $14,249 per year lower (-67.51%).
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 Orange County, CA and Austin County, TX, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 64.8% of median family income in Orange County, CA 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 $18,600 per year lower in Austin County, TX than in Orange County, CA. 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 $807 per year lower in Austin County, TX than in Orange County, CA. 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 $491 per year higher in Austin County, TX than in Orange County, CA. 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 $240 per year higher in Austin County, TX than in Orange County, CA. 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 $6,025 per year lower in Austin County, TX than in Orange County, CA. 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 Orange County, CA 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 $14,249 per year lower in Austin County, TX than in Orange County, CA. 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:
$491 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:
$18,600 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 | -66% lower | |
| Food | -18% lower | |
| Transport | 4% higher | |
| Healthcare | 4% higher | |
| Other Costs | -59% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -68% lower |
In Austin County, TX, modeled annual costs are $44,487 compared with $83,438 in Orange County, CA.
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 Orange County, CA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
