Example household · Santa Fe, NM · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

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Santa Fe vs Austin

Santa Fe and Austin

Photo: Quintin Soloviev / Wikimedia, CC BY 4.0

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 Austin are under the US rate in this release, 3.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Santa Fe to Austin

In 2022-2023, 41 households filed a move from Santa Fe to Austin (about 60 people, average adjusted gross income $94,293). 90 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,503 in Santa Fe and $1,221 in Austin. Santa Fe has a state tax on wages. Austin has no state tax on wages. Local pay in Austin is 104% of the national level for the same work, against 89% in Santa Fe.

Austin averages 228 sunny days, with July highs around 97°F and January nights around 43°F. Santa Fe is 276 sunny days, 88°F in July, 21°F in January. Commutes average 27 minutes in Austin and 23 in Santa Fe.

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, 41 households moved Santa Fe → Austin (about 60 people, average AGI $94,293). 90 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 Santa Fe and Austin changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 725 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$2,350–$4,400
Container or pod
$1,650–$3,050
Rent a truck
$800–$1,550

Movers in Austin and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Austin cheaper than Santa Fe after tax and rent?

Yes. Austin leaves about $387 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,503 in Santa Fe and $1,221 in Austin.

Does Austin have state income tax?

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

Did people actually move from Santa Fe to Austin?

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.