CostIndexUSA

Austin, TX vs Grand Junction, CO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Austin
98.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableCO
Grand Junction
95.5
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Grand Junction is slightly cheaper than Austin — 2.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Austin, you would need $77,900 in Grand Junction. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing28.2%
Austin
120.4
Grand Junction
86.4
🛒 Groceries+2.5%
Austin
93.8
Grand Junction
96.1
🚗 Transportation+3.7%
Austin
101.1
Grand Junction
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+3.7%
Austin
91.4
Grand Junction
94.8
Utilities+1.6%
Austin
82
Grand Junction
83.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Grand Junction, CO
$77,900
$2,100 less needed in Grand Junction

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 98.1) = salary × 0.9735. 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×

Grand Junction, CO

Median Home Price
$418,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
86.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.2×

Austin has 28.2% lower housing costs compared to Grand Junction.

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

Grand Junction, CO

Median Household Income
$64,700
Per Capita Income
$36,900
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
64,785
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareAgricultureRetailGovernment

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)

Grand Junction, CO
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

68% 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.