Austin vs San Francisco — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
Austin edges out San Francisco on affordability with a Cost of Living index of 74 vs 94 (US=100; premium vs premium). San Francisco scores higher on safety (null/100), and San Francisco wins on internet at ~—. Overall, Austin takes the Nomad Score crown with null/100 — best for .
* Some figures are country averages — full city-level data coming soon.Pro members get neighbourhood-level breakdowns.
Metric
Austin
San Francisco
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
US$1,900
US$3,300
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
US$1,400
US$2,400
Cost of Living (US=100)
74
94
Safety Score
—
—
Internet Speed
—
—
Nomad Score
—
—
Healthcare Score
—
—
Digital Nomad Visa
Not available
Not available
Who is each city for?
Austin is better for…
See the United States country profileSan Francisco is better for…
See the United States country profileSee full city data — neighbourhood breakdowns, internet speeds & coworking scores
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