Example household · Austin, TX · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Odessa

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Austin vs Odessa

Austin and Odessa

Photo: Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Odessa are above the US rate in this release, 7.4 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Austin to Odessa

In 2022-2023, 35 households filed a move from Austin to Odessa (about 54 people, average adjusted gross income $53,314). 94 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,221 in Austin and $1,178 in Odessa. Austin has no state tax on wages. Odessa has no state tax on wages. Local pay in Odessa is 99% of the national level for the same work, against 104% in Austin.

Odessa averages 269 sunny days, with July highs around 97°F and January nights around 35°F. Austin is 228 sunny days, 97°F in July, 43°F in January. Commutes average 25 minutes in Odessa and 27 in Austin.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 35 households moved Austin → Odessa (about 54 people, average AGI $53,314). 94 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Austin and Odessa changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 372 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,950–$3,650
Container or pod
$1,350–$2,500
Rent a truck
$600–$1,100

Movers in Odessa and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Odessa cheaper than Austin after tax and rent?

Yes. Odessa leaves about $174 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,221 in Austin and $1,178 in Odessa.

Does Odessa have state income tax?

Odessa is in Texas, which has no state income tax.

Did people actually move from Austin to Odessa?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.