Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in San Mateo County, CA would need to be about $23,735 in Austin County, TX, or $26,265 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
San Mateo County, CA vs Austin County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Austin County, TX is cheaper than San Mateo County, CA.
Moving to Austin County, TX is estimated to save $49,231 per year.
Cheaper County
Austin County, TXSave about $49,231 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in San Mateo County, CA is about $23,735 in Austin County, TX.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Austin County, TX. Housing saves $20,757 per year.
Housing: $20,757 lower in Austin County, TX
Taxes: $18,196 lower in Austin County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,558 lower in Austin County, TX
Food: $1,592 lower in Austin County, TX
Transport: $190 lower in Austin County, TX
San Mateo County, CA→Austin County, TX
Equivalent salary in Austin County, TX
$23,735
-52.53% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in San Mateo County, CA: $184,583
Median Income in Austin County, TX: $95,354
Living Index in San Mateo County, CA 50.77%
Living Index in Austin County, TX 46.65%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from San Mateo 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 San Mateo County, CA to Austin County, TX is estimated to save $49,231 per year. A $50,000 salary in San Mateo County, CA would have similar purchasing power to about $23,735 in Austin County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -52.53% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $20,757 per year lower (-68.32%); Taxes is $18,196 per year lower (-72.63%).
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 San Mateo 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 50.8% of median family income in San Mateo 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 $20,757 per year lower in Austin County, TX than in San Mateo 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 $1,592 per year lower in Austin County, TX than in San Mateo 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 $190 per year lower in Austin County, TX than in San Mateo 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 $1,558 per year lower in Austin County, TX than in San Mateo 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 $6,939 per year lower in Austin County, TX than in San Mateo 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 San Mateo 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 $18,196 per year lower in Austin County, TX than in San Mateo 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:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Austin County, TX.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Austin County, TX
Annual Savings:
$20,757 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 | -68% lower | |
| Food | -30% lower | |
| Transport | -1% lower | |
| Healthcare | -21% lower | |
| Other Costs | -63% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -73% lower |
In Austin County, TX, modeled annual costs are $44,487 compared with $93,718 in San Mateo 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 San Mateo County, CA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
