$200/mo gap on median 1BR
Austin vs Denver Cost of Living
Rent, food, commute, and pay targets side by side.
This page compares Austin cost of living and Denver cost of living side by side. Use it to check monthly cost gaps, salary fit, and lifestyle tradeoffs before you choose a city.
Comfort pay targets (gross, before tax)
Usually signals lower overall cost pressure
Figures from Austin cost of living and Denver cost of living.
Quick comparison
Median planning figures from each city guide. Green cells highlight the better value for that row (lower cost or lower salary need).
| Category | Austin cost of living | Denver cost of living |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $1,750 | $1,950 |
| Groceries | $400 | $430 |
| Transport | $370 | $340 |
| Comfort salary | $82,000 | $88,000 |
Category breakdown
Line-by-line view of how Austin cost of living and Denver cost of living differ — bars scale to the higher city in each pair.
City context: when each one fits
Go deeper on Austin cost of living or Denver cost of living when the table alone does not capture job market, commute, or lifestyle fit.
Austin
Austin shows rent near $1,750/mo and a comfort pay target near $82,000 gross.
Austin and Denver are both Sun Belt and mountain west growth cities. Rent rose in both after 2020.
Denver
Denver shows rent near $1,950/mo and a comfort pay target near $88,000 gross.
Texas has no state income tax. Colorado taxes income but at a flat rate. Compare take-home, not gross alone.
Context note: Denver for outdoors; Austin for no state income tax.
What the gap means
How to read the numbers above when you are choosing between Austin and Denver — not just which city is cheaper on paper.
Rent
Austin slightly
$200/mo separates median 1BR rents.
Comfort salary
Austin needs less
$6,000 gap in gross pay targets — verify with take-home tax.
Tradeoff
Cheaper ≠ always better
Denver for outdoors; Austin for no state income tax
Rent gap
Austin rent is $1,750 a month. Denver rent is $1,950 a month.
Salary fit
Pay targets are $82,000 vs $88,000 in gross pay. Check tax on net pay.
Before you move
Add kids, debt, and buy vs rent goals before you move for a small rent gap.
Austin and Denver are both Sun Belt and mountain west growth cities. Rent rose in both after 2020.
Texas has no state income tax. Colorado taxes income but at a flat rate. Compare take-home, not gross alone.
Denver rent on a 1-bedroom often runs a bit above Austin. Austin car costs can run higher with sprawl.
FAQ
Is Austin or Denver cheaper?
On rent, Austin slightly usually wins in this pair. Still, total cost is rent + food + commute + tax. Use this page for monthly planning, then run take-home pay to compare real net pay.
Which city is better for families?
Families should compare childcare, school zones, home size, and commute time, not only 1BR rent. A city with higher rent can still work if wages are stronger and care costs are lower in your target area.
Should I move for a 10% raise?
A raise helps only if your core monthly costs do not rise faster. As a quick rule, if living costs rise 15% and pay rises 10%, your monthly cushion may shrink.
Do these numbers include tax?
Not in the core rows. Tax is separate because state and city rules vary by filing status and income type. After this comparison, run a take-home calculator for both locations.
What about buying a home?
Rent winners do not always win for buyers. Property tax, insurance, HOA, and interest rates can flip the result. Open each city's housing tools if you might buy within the next 1 to 3 years.
How should I use this page with job offers?
Start with the salary row, then stress-test the rent row with real listings in your target neighborhoods. If your job is hybrid, include commute cost and time as a real monthly line.