← City Comparisons

San Francisco

California state data

Moderate tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 4 categories

VS

Austin

Texas state data

Moderate tax burden · COL index 97

Wins 8 categories

Data reflects California vs Texas state-level figures. City-specific data coming soon.

California
Texas

Taxes

13.3%
Income Tax (top rate)
None
0.71%/yr
Property Tax Rate
1.6%/yr
8.82%
Sales Tax (avg)
8.19%
Yes
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
Yes
As income
Capital Gains Tax
None

Housing & Cost of Living

142
COL Index (100=avg)
97
$790K
Median Home Price
$340K
$2,300/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$1,600/mo
$2K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$3K/yr

Crime & Safety

499
Violent Crime / 100K
447
2,027
Property Crime / 100K
2,478

Healthcare

#13 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#36 of 50
79.2 yrs
Life Expectancy
76.3 yrs
6.8%
Uninsured Rate
18.4%
Yes
Medicaid Expansion
No

Education

#20 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#36 of 50
No
School Choice / Vouchers
Yes

Childcare

$2,200/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$1,050/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$145/mo
$620/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$480/mo
#49 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#31 of 50

Social Policy

A
Gun Laws Grade
F
D+20.0
2024 Presidential Margin
R+14.0

Category wins

4

San Francisco

8

Austin

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People Also Ask

Is Austin cheaper than San Francisco?

Austin, TX is 42% cheaper than San Francisco, CA. A $50,000 salary in San Francisco, CA is equivalent to roughly $28,771 in Austin, TX.

Is $100,000 a good salary in Austin?

Why are people moving out of Austin?

What is Dirty 6 in Austin?

Explore California in depth →Explore Texas in depth →

Your Priorities

Adjust and every page updates live

Quick Profiles

Dial in your priorities

Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable