City comparison
Austin, TX vs Crestview, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Austin, TX are 1.1% higher than in Crestview, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Crestview, FL would need about $101,100 in Austin, TX to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,562 a month in Austin, TX and $1,581 in Crestview, FL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in TX and $0 in FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.7% moving from Austin, TX to Crestview, FL ($109,428 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.7% in real buying power.
- Austin, TX: price level 98.1 (about average)
- Crestview, FL: price level 97.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Austin, TX | Crestview, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.1 | 97.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,945 in Crestview | $101,067 in Austin |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,562/mo | $1,581/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,950 | $47,510 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA and Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Austin | Crestview |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.4 | 94.9 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 98.1 | 97.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Austin, TX → Crestview, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
72 Strong offer
Crestview, FL → Austin, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −1.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
65 Fair offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Austin, TX is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX pay area; Crestview, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Austin, TX to Crestview, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Austin, TX | Crestview, FL | Real change, Austin → Crestview |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,457 | $61,722 | −1.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,777 | $74,678 | −1.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,023 | $89,508 | −1.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,428 | $106,437 | −1.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,311 | $125,776 | −1.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Austin, TX | Crestview, FL | Crestview pay in Austin dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $134,100 | $108,420 | $109,576 (−18.3%) |
| Software Developers | $134,120 | $130,640 | $132,033 (−1.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,120 | $79,510 | $80,358 (−3.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,890 | $81,260 | $82,127 (−16.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.