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

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Data: Zillow • Census • FBI • NOAA • BLS

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ColumbiavsAustin

Moving from Columbia to Austin will save you approximately $144,136 on median home prices (27.7% less). Monthly rent is $601 cheaper in Austin. Note that median income is 31.3% lower in Austin.

Housing
27.7% cheaper
Rent
27.7% cheaper
View ColumbiaView Austin
Austin

Side-by-Side Comparison

Origin

Columbia, MD

Median Home Price$520,757
Monthly Rent$2,170
Median Income$96,138
Population103,467
Destination

Austin, TX

Median Home Price
$376,621-27.7%
Monthly Rent
$1,569-27.7%
Median Income
$66,050-31.3%
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.

Columbia

2015$1,593
2020$1,750
2025$2,170

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.

Columbia

Housing$12,376
Food$6,344
Transport$13,060
Healthcare$7,146
Total$50,738

Austin

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

Key Insights

27.7%
Housing Cost
cheaper in Austin
$601
Monthly Rent Difference
savings per month
31.3%
Income Level
lower median income

Demographics

Columbia

Population103,467
Median Age37.9 yrs
Violent Crime Rate435 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1522 per 100k

Austin

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

Safety & Crime Statistics

Columbia

435
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1522
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 Columbia?

Austin is 27.7% cheaper for housing than Columbia. The median home price in Austin is $376,621 compared to $520,757 in Columbia, a savings of $144,136.

What is the rent difference between Columbia and Austin?

Monthly rent in Austin averages $1,569, while Columbia averages $2,170. That's a savings of $601 per month, or $7,207 annually.

How do incomes compare between Columbia and Austin?

The median household income in Austin is $66,050, which is 31.3% lower than Columbia's median of $96,138.

Which city is safer: Columbia or Austin?

Columbia has a violent crime rate of 435 per 100k residents, while Austin has 453 per 100k. Columbia 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.