AustinMoney Index August 2026
"Boomtown with a budget brain."
Austin — Money Index — Key Facts
- 16% of Land Is Parks. Roughly 16% of Austin's land is parkland — about the big-city median.
- 25-Minute Commute. Austin's one-way commute averages 25 minutes — right around the US norm. Roughly 192 hours a year on the road.
- Work-Life Balance: 62/100. Austin scores 62/100 on work-life balance — one of the more livable big US metros.
- 46% Own Their Home. Only 46% of Austin households own — well below the US average of ~65%. Most residents are still renting.
- Happiness Score: 71/100. Residents rate life in Austin a 71/100 — one of the happiest big metros in the country.
- 14% Savings Rate. Austin households save about 14% of income — well above the ~8% US average. Quiet wealth, compounding fast.
- Cost of Living: 119. Austin's cost of living sits at 119 — basically the US baseline (100 = US average).
- Median Household: $84k. Austin households earn about $84k — roughly 12% above the US average.
- Ranked #8 of 50. Austin ranks #8 of 50 on the PickYourBank US City Money Index — a blend of savings rate, income, affordability, happiness and work-life balance.
- Financial Stress: 54/100. Money stress in Austin sits at 54/100 — close to the national norm.
Austin's tech-fueled boom pushed wages up faster than most cities — but transplants who locked in pre-2020 housing won big.
With a median household income of ~$84k, a 14% savings rate, and a cost-of-living index of 119, Austin ranks #8 of 50 US cities in our overall money index.
Green space & commute
Two underrated money levers: how long you spend getting to work, and how much nature you can reach without paying for it.
About 16% of Austin's land is parkland — roughly in line with the typical big US city.
- • Source: Trust for Public Land ParkScore
- • Parks lower stress and lift nearby property values
- • Free recreation = zero-cost lifestyle upgrade
Austin's average commute (~25 min one-way) is close to the US average of ~27 minutes.
- • Source: US Census ACS mean one-way travel time
- • Owning a car runs ~$10k/year on average in the US
- • 10 fewer commute minutes/day ≈ 80 hours back per year
Typical Austin household budget
Modeled split of $100 of after-tax income, scaled to Austin's cost of living and savings rate.
How Austin feels about money
Four Austin money truths
Austin's savings rate runs 14% — automate even one extra percentage point and you compound serious money over a decade.
Austin runs above the US average, so price discipline matters more here than in most metros.
Owning unlocks fixed housing costs and equity. Renters here can still build wealth — just channel the difference into index funds and a high-yield savings account.
Texas residents in Austin report a 71/100 happiness score with stress at 54/100 — money habits and lifestyle here track that mix closely.
"Austin median home prices roughly doubled from 2016 to 2022."
Money lessons from Austin
- 1
Time-in-market beats timing
- 2
Negotiate equity, not just salary
- 3
Don't out-buy your income
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Austin money FAQ
Is Austin, Texas a good city for saving money?+
Austin households save about 14% of income, with a happiness score of 71/100 and a work-life balance score of 62/100. Austin's tech-fueled boom pushed wages up faster than most cities — but transplants who locked in pre-2020 housing won big.
What is the median household income in Austin?+
The median household income in Austin, Texas is roughly $84,000 per year. About 56% of households have a 3-month emergency fund.
How affordable is Austin?+
Austin's cost of living index sits at 119 (100 = US average). Homeownership stands at 46%.
How long is the average commute in Austin?+
Austin's average commute (~25 min one-way) is close to the US average of ~27 minutes.
How much urban green space does Austin have?+
About 16% of Austin's land is parkland — roughly in line with the typical big US city.
What money personality fits Austin?+
The Builder — Steady, long-horizon, and obsessed with foundations.
What's surprising about money in Austin?+
Austin median home prices roughly doubled from 2016 to 2022.
