$40K in Boston = $30,123 in Austin

Your $40K salary in Boston (COL 162) has the same purchasing power as $30,123 in Austin (COL 122). Austin is cheaper — your money goes 25% further there.

$40K in Boston, MA
$2,562/mo take-home
Rent: $3,000/mo (117% of take-home)
Difficult
$30,123/yr in Austin, TX
$2,055/mo take-home
Rent: $1,800/mo (88% of take-home)
Difficult

Budget breakdown — $40K in both cities

What $40K actually buys you in each city after taxes and core expenses.

Expense
Boston
$40K
Austin
$40K (same salary)
Monthly take-home$2,562$2,728
1BR rent$3,000$1,800
Groceries$418$372
Transport$90$50
Utilities$185$170
Internet$70$65
Left after essentials-$1,201/month$271/month
To match your Boston purchasing power in Austin, you'd need to earn $30,123/year (25% less than $40K). At that salary, you'd have $-402/mo left after essentials — vs $-1,201/mo in Boston.

Frequently asked questions

What is $40K in Boston equivalent to in Austin?

$40K in Boston (COL index 162) has the same purchasing power as $30,123 in Austin (COL index 122). That's 25% less than your current salary.

If I move from Boston to Austin keeping my $40K salary, will I be better off?

Yes. If you keep earning $40K after moving to Austin, you'd have $1,472 more per month after core expenses — because Austin is cheaper than Boston.

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: $40K × (122 ÷ 162) = $30,123. This adjusts for differences in housing, food, transport, and general cost of living.

Other salary amounts — Boston to Austin

$50K → $37,654$60K → $45,185$75K → $56,481$80K → $60,247$100K → $75,309$120K → $90,370$150K → $112,963
$40K in Austin → BostonMoving from Boston to AustinBoston vs Austin — full comparisonCan I afford Boston vs Austin on $40K?

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