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Mohamed Oun
Austin
#3 of 124
North America

Austin

TX, United States

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Austin compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Austin is 15% better off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Austin compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$186,000
-$87K (-32%) vs San Francisco
Based on 1697 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$132,990
-$40K (-23%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 29%

Community Insights

New
7.8/10

Austin remains a top-tier destination for software engineers looking to maximize their savings rate without sacrificing career growth. The absence of state income tax, combined with a median SWE salary of $180,000, offers a financial runway that is hard to beat in the US. The tech scene is mature, hosting both FAANG giants and a bustle of startups, though it has cooled slightly from the frenzy of 2021.

However, the "gloss" has worn off for some residents due to infrastructure growing pains. The summer heat is a brutal reality that forces people indoors for a quarter of the year, and the traffic can be soul-crushing. Culturally, it is a blue dot in a red state, creating a unique dynamic where you enjoy liberal city amenities (great nightlife, diverse food) while navigating conservative state laws. For many, the financial freedom and friendly culture are worth the trade-off, but those sensitive to extreme heat or political polarity often look elsewhere.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Purchasing Power

Top 2%

#3

of 124 cities

Net Income

Top 4%

#5

of 124 cities

$132,990/yr

Current value

Home Affordability

Top 14%

#17

of 124 cities

≈3.2 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Austin compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$5,248 / m²
47% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Austin to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
33% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Austin

Meta logo
Meta
Indeed logo
Indeed
Atlassian logo
Atlassian
No state income tax, which significantly boosts take-home pay compared to other tech hubs like SF or NYC.
  • High purchasing power relative to salary; while costs have risen, a senior engineer can still afford a single-family home (unlike in the Bay Area).
  • Vibrant tech ecosystem ("Silicon Hills") with major campuses for Google, Apple, Meta, and Tesla, plus a massive Samsung semiconductor facility.
  • Outdoor lifestyle centered around Lady Bird Lake, Barton Springs, and Zilker Park, offering kayaking, paddleboarding, and running trails year-round (except mid-summer afternoons).
  • World-class food scene, specifically famous for Texas BBQ (Franklin, Terry Black’s) and an abundance of breakfast tacos.
  • Friendly social atmosphere; despite the "tech bro" influx, newcomers often find it easier to make friends here than in Seattle or NYC.
  • Mild winters that allow for outdoor activities when the rest of the country is freezing.

    • The Bad

    • Oppressive summer heat, with temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F (38°C) for months at a time, making it hard to go outside from June to September.
    • Severe traffic congestion, particularly on I-35 and MoPac, coupled with virtually non-existent public transit, making a car mandatory.
    • State-level politics (e.g., abortion bans, LGBTQ+ legislation) create friction for some liberal tech workers, despite the city itself being politically blue.
    • Allergies, specifically "Cedar Fever" in winter, which can cause severe flu-like symptoms for many residents.
    • Power grid instability (ERCOT); concerns about blackouts during extreme weather events (freezes or heatwaves) remain a talking point.
    • Rising property taxes; while there is no income tax, Texas has some of the highest property tax rates in the nation, which can offset savings for homeowners.

    Moving Here

    Moderate

    Moving domestically is straightforward, with a massive community of recent transplants making social integration easy. Visa pathways (H1B, L1) follow standard US federal rules, which can be complex and lottery-based for foreigners; there is no specific "state visa." English is the only language needed for work and daily life, though Spanish is helpful socially. The city is culturally open to foreigners, but the lack of walkable infrastructure adds a layer of logistical friction (buying a car, getting a license) immediately upon arrival.

    Who Is This City For?

    Engineers focused on FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), young families wanting suburban space with city salaries, and outdoor enthusiasts who don't mind the heat. Avoid if you rely on public transportation, have severe seasonal allergies, or if reproductive rights and state politics are a dealbreaker for you.

    Updated 1/20/2026

    Weather3.8/10-56% vs San Francisco
    Safety56+42%
    Pollution43-13%
    Events18-80%
    3.8/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    27°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    16°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    2,644h/yr-418h/yr(-14%)
    Hottest Month High
    35°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    6°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    76/yr+27/yr(+56%)

    Community & Quality

    Austin community pulse

    Austin has 18 Luma events listed.

    80% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Community Events

    Top 15%

    #18

    of 124 cities

    18 events on luma

    Current value

    Tax Rate

    Top 28%

    #35

    of 124 cities

    29%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Pollution Score

    Middle of the pack

    #54

    of 124 cities

    42.8/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Safety Index

    Middle of the pack

    #61

    of 124 cities

    56/100

    Current value

    Comfortable Weather

    Middle of the pack

    #74

    of 124 cities

    38/100 weather score

    Current value

    Cost of Living

    Bottom 30%

    #88

    of 124 cities

    59/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    SWE Affordability
    3.2 years
    1.4 years quicker than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    142/yr+141/yr(+70650%)
    Cloud Cover
    38%(vs 34% in San Francisco)