Salary Comparison
Curators: Austin vs Phoenix
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Austin, TX
$63,030/yr
Phoenix, AZ
$81,030/yr
Our recommendation: Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix offers $1,235 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Austin
Phoenix
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$63,030
$81,030
$18,000
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,834
$4,929
$1,095
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
105
100
+5 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,825
$2,685
+$140
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,680
$1,550
+$130
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$1,009
$2,244
$1,235
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.36×
1.84×
-0.48×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
5/10 (Tight)
7/10 (Moderate)
-2
A vs B
Austin — Full Details
Phoenix — Full Details
Salary estimates based on BLS metro data. Cost of living from regional price indices. All figures are estimates; verify with employers before making decisions.