Tempe vs Austin: Cost of Living Comparison
How does the cost of living in Tempe, Arizona compare to Austin, Texas? Below is a side-by-side breakdown of housing costs, income, wages, and taxes using official government data.
Summary: Tempe is the more affordable city overall. Housing costs are 17% lower in Tempe compared to Austin, while rent is 5% lower. TX has no state income tax.
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Austin, TX | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Median Home Value | $382,100 | $461,500 | -17.2% |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472 | $1,549 | -5.0% |
| Income | |||
| Median Household Income | $72,022 | $86,556 | -16.8% |
| Per Capita Income | $40,495 | $54,673 | -25.9% |
| Taxes | |||
| State Income Tax Rate | 2.5% | None | same |
| Combined Sales Tax | 8.4% | 8.2% | +2.1% |
| Demographics | |||
| Population | 181,005 | 958,202 | -81.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. State/local tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024).
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Tempe
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Austin
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Key Takeaways
- Housing: The median home in Tempe costs $382,100 compared to $461,500 in Austin — a 17% discount.
- Rent: Median rent is $1,472/mo in Tempe vs $1,549/mo in Austin.
- Income: Median household income is $72,022 in Tempe and $86,556 in Austin.
- Taxes: Texas has no state income tax, while Arizona has a 2.5% rate.
Methodology
This comparison uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2022) for median household income, median home value, median gross rent, per capita income, and population. State and local tax rates are sourced from the Tax Foundation. Mortgage rates are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (updated weekly).