$80K in Austin = $53,770 in Mobile

Your $80K salary in Austin (COL 122) has the same purchasing power as $53,770 in Mobile (COL 82). Mobile is cheaper — your money goes 33% further there.

$80K in Austin, TX
$5,057/mo take-home
Rent: $1,800/mo (36% of take-home)
Tight
$53,770/yr in Mobile, AL
$3,175/mo take-home
Rent: $1,100/mo (35% of take-home)
Manageable

Budget breakdown — $80K in both cities

What $80K actually buys you in each city after taxes and core expenses.

Expense
Austin
$80K
Mobile
$80K (same salary)
Monthly take-home$5,057$4,723
1BR rent$1,800$1,100
Groceries$372$353
Transport$50$38
Utilities$170$172
Internet$65$58
Left after essentials$2,600/month$3,002/month
To match your Austin purchasing power in Mobile, you'd need to earn $53,770/year (33% less than $80K). At that salary, you'd have $1,454/mo left after essentials — vs $2,600/mo in Austin.

Frequently asked questions

What is $80K in Austin equivalent to in Mobile?

$80K in Austin (COL index 122) has the same purchasing power as $53,770 in Mobile (COL index 82). That's 33% less than your current salary.

If I move from Austin to Mobile keeping my $80K salary, will I be better off?

Yes. If you keep earning $80K after moving to Mobile, you'd have $402 more per month after core expenses — because Mobile is cheaper than Austin.

How is the salary equivalent calculated?

The equivalent salary is calculated by multiplying your current salary by the ratio of the two cities' overall cost of living indices: $80K × (82 ÷ 122) = $53,770. This adjusts for differences in housing, food, transport, and general cost of living.

Other salary amounts — Austin to Mobile

$40K → $26,885$50K → $33,607$60K → $40,328$75K → $50,410$100K → $67,213$120K → $80,656$150K → $100,820
$80K in Mobile → AustinMoving from Austin to MobileAustin vs Mobile — full comparisonCan I afford Austin vs Mobile on $80K?

Equivalency uses overall COL index ratio. Take-home uses simplified federal/state brackets. Zillow · BLS · Numbeo · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only