AUSTIN BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
WWW.AUSTINRELOCATIONGUIDE.COM 51
HOW AUSTIN MEASURES UP
When compared to cities that are similar
– in terms of major industries and population, among other factors – your
hard-earned dollar stretches much further
here. In fact, you’ll likely pay less for
transportation, utilities, health care,
and other critical goods and services
like groceries (Texas doesn’t tax unprepared food items) and housing – and
we’ve got the stats to prove it.
ACCRA is a national organization
dedicated to economic development
and policy research, and it published
an annual Cost of Living Index that
ranks a range of living expenses in
major cities. The index measures differences between areas in the cost of consumer goods and services, minus taxes
and non-consumer expenditures.
It also measures relative price levels for
consumer goods and services in participating areas. The average for a participating place—both metropolitan and
non-metro— is 100, and each city’s
index is read as a percentage of the
average for all places. See the chart
below to see how Austin ranks against
other large metro areas, and you’ll see
that it’s much less expensive, in just
about every category measured, to
hang your hat right here.
For example, when comparing the
ACCRA Cost of Living Index for the last
several years, housing in the Austin, Texas
area has consistently been one of the
most affordable metropolitan markets in
the U.S. With an average 2014 housing
score of 86. 5, the Austin area is well
below the U.S. average of 100.
Whether you’re thinking about moving
here, or have just made the move, it’s
easy to see that the Austin area is a
thriving community that measures up not
only with its quality of life – but also
with its affordability. And that’s good
news from any perspective.
MOVING FROM HERE... YOU’D NEED TO MAKE...
Phoenix $58, 247
Detroit $58, 107
San Francisco $54, 229
Boston $39,715
Denver $53,563
Miami $52,089
Pittsburgh $59, 340
Houston $57, 128
Dallas $58, 271
Seattle $47, 288
Philadelphia $45,956
Atlanta $58,900
Baton Rouge $60,986
New York City $32,066
Los Angeles $42,815
Chicago $48,057
Las Vegas $55,922
Portland $47,361
St. Louis $60,025
Raleigh $60, 136
Cincinnati $61, 255
