City comparison
Austin, TX vs Richmond, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Austin, TX (98.1) and Richmond, VA (97.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Austin, TX goes as far as $99,800 in Richmond, VA.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,562 a month in Austin, TX and $1,507 in Richmond, VA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,936 a year higher in Richmond, VA than in Austin, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.6% moving from Austin, TX to Richmond, VA ($109,428 → $111,183), while prices change by −0.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.8% in real buying power.
- Austin, TX: price level 98.1 (about average)
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Austin, TX | Richmond, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.1 | 97.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,788 in Richmond | $100,213 in Austin |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,562/mo | $1,507/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,950 | $51,460 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | Richmond, VA |
Rent areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA and Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Richmond, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Austin | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.4 | 99.1 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 89.2 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 98.1 | 97.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Austin, TX → Richmond, VA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$4,936/yr.
69 Fair offer
Richmond, VA → Austin, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −0.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$4,936/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Austin, TX is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX pay area; Richmond, VA is in Richmond, VA. The last column shows what a transfer from Austin, TX to Richmond, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Austin, TX | Richmond, VA | Real change, Austin → Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,457 | $64,475 | +1.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,777 | $78,009 | +1.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,023 | $93,499 | +1.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,428 | $111,183 | +1.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,311 | $131,385 | +1.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Austin, TX | Richmond, VA | Richmond pay in Austin dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,270 | $61,290 | $61,420 (+0.2%) |
| Software Developers | $134,120 | $132,120 | $132,401 (−1.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,120 | $84,220 | $84,399 (+1.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,890 | $93,580 | $93,779 (−4.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.