CostIndexUSA

Austin, TX vs Waterbury, CT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Austin
98.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
CT
Waterbury
99.8
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Austin is slightly cheaper than Waterbury — 1.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Austin, you would need $81,400 in Waterbury. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing26.0%
Austin
120.4
Waterbury
89.1
🛒 Groceries+3.7%
Austin
93.8
Waterbury
97.3
🚗 Transportation+6.6%
Austin
101.1
Waterbury
107.8
🏥 Healthcare+6.7%
Austin
91.4
Waterbury
97.5
Utilities+80.0%
Austin
82
Waterbury
147.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waterbury, CT
$81,400
$1,400 more needed in Waterbury

Formula: salary × (99.8 ÷ 98.1) = salary × 1.0173. 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×

Waterbury, CT

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
89.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.4×

Austin has 26.0% lower housing costs compared to Waterbury.

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

Waterbury, CT

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
114,403
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

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)

Waterbury, CT
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.