Moving guide · California → Texas
Moving from San Francisco to Austin
Live music, tech jobs and warm winters. Here's how life in Austin compares with San Francisco.
January in Austin feels much like San Francisco, averaging around 11°C, with around 70 more sunny days. A typical home costs roughly 56% less in Austin (about US$1,250,000 vs US$550,000), and everyday costs run about 70 points lower on our cost of living index. Texas has no state income tax, compared with a high state income tax in California. For lifestyle, you gain warm winters, live music and nightlife and leave behind wine country, hiking and beach. (Approximate figures.)
Weather
- January average
- 11°C → 11°C (about the same)
- July average
- 17°C → 30°C (+13°)
- Sunny days a year
- 160 → 230
- Snow a year
- 0 → 2 cm
Money (approximate)
- Cost of living index
- 175 → 105
- Typical home
- US$1,250,000 → US$550,000
- Property tax rate
- 0.68% → 1.8%
- Provincial or state income tax
- High → None
- Health care in Austin
- Private, ~US$520/mo (approx.)
Getting around in Austin
- Airport
- 20 min
- Ski hill
- 3h+
- Beach or lake
- 15 min
- Main industries
- Tech, government, music
Lifestyle and risks
Climate, cost and risk figures are approximate and for comparison only. Prices are in each place's local currency.