CostIndexUSA

Austin, TX vs Harrisburg, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Austin
98.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
PA
Harrisburg
98.7
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Austin is slightly cheaper than Harrisburg — 0.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Austin, you would need $80,500 in Harrisburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing20.0%
Austin
120.4
Harrisburg
96.3
🛒 Groceries+7.4%
Austin
93.8
Harrisburg
100.7
🚗 Transportation+1.5%
Austin
101.1
Harrisburg
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Austin
91.4
Harrisburg
92.8
Utilities+31.8%
Austin
82
Harrisburg
108.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Austin to see what you'd need to earn in Harrisburg to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Harrisburg, PA
$80,500
$500 more needed in Harrisburg

Formula: salary × (98.7 ÷ 98.1) = salary × 1.0061. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Austin, TX

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
120.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.6×

Harrisburg, PA

Median Home Price
$298,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
96.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.7×

Austin has 20.0% lower housing costs compared to Harrisburg.

Income & Job Market

Austin, TX

Median Household Income
$98,500
Per Capita Income
$56,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
978,908
Top Industries
TechnologyGovernmentHealthcareEducationEntertainment

Harrisburg, PA

Median Household Income
$76,800
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
49,192
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceEducationManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Austin, TX
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% of income left after rent (median)

Harrisburg, PA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.