Cost of Living Comparison
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The most comprehensive cost of living comparison tool for US cities. Make informed relocation decisions with real data from trusted sources.

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Data

  • San Francisco
  • New York
  • Austin
  • Denver

Top Routes

  • NYC → Austin
  • LA → Phoenix
  • SF → Denver
  • Chicago → Dallas

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Data: Zillow • Census • FBI • NOAA • BLS

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ChicagovsAustin

Moving from Chicago to Austin will save you approximately $148,653 on median home prices (28.3% less). Monthly rent is $619 cheaper in Austin. Note that median income is 9.8% lower in Austin.

Housing
28.3% cheaper
Rent
28.3% cheaper
View ChicagoView Austin
Austin

Side-by-Side Comparison

Origin

Chicago, IL

Median Home Price$525,274
Monthly Rent$2,189
Median Income$73,194
Population2,720,556
Destination

Austin, TX

Median Home Price
$376,621-28.3%
Monthly Rent
$1,569-28.3%
Median Income
$66,050-9.8%
Population931,840
Housing

Rent History & Trends

Understanding how rental prices have changed over time helps predict future affordability and make informed decisions about your move.

Chicago

2015$1,513
2020$1,592
2025$2,189

Austin

2015$1,204
2020$1,353
2025$1,569

Annual Cost of Living

A comprehensive breakdown of annual living expenses helps you budget effectively for your new life in Austin.

Chicago

Housing$7,516
Food$5,442
Transport$13,003
Healthcare$12,465
Total$50,964

Austin

Housing$8,287
Food$5,434
Transport$13,321
Healthcare$10,777
Total$43,531
Costs

Key Insights

28.3%
Housing Cost
cheaper in Austin
$619
Monthly Rent Difference
savings per month
9.8%
Income Level
lower median income

Demographics

Chicago

Population2,720,556
Median Age34.2 yrs
Violent Crime Rate345 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1393 per 100k

Austin

Population931,840
Median Age32.7 yrs
Violent Crime Rate453 per 100k
Property Crime Rate2172 per 100k

Safety & Crime Statistics

Chicago

345
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1393
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

Austin

453
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
2172
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Chicago?

Austin is 28.3% cheaper for housing than Chicago. The median home price in Austin is $376,621 compared to $525,274 in Chicago, a savings of $148,653.

What is the rent difference between Chicago and Austin?

Monthly rent in Austin averages $1,569, while Chicago averages $2,189. That's a savings of $619 per month, or $7,433 annually.

How do incomes compare between Chicago and Austin?

The median household income in Austin is $66,050, which is 9.8% lower than Chicago's median of $73,194.

Which city is safer: Chicago or Austin?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 345 per 100k residents, while Austin has 453 per 100k. Chicago is statistically safer.

What is Estates?

Estates is a comprehensive cost of living comparison platform covering over 3,900 US cities. We help you compare housing prices, rent, income levels, crime rates, demographics, and climate data to make informed relocation decisions. Our data comes from trusted sources including Zillow, the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, and NOAA.