Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX vs. Jefferson City, MO
Empirical side-by-side analysis of regional cost of living, HUD fair market rents, statutory tax burdens, and occupational compensation spread.
Featured Metro Comparisons
BLS median wage across all occupations, HUD one-bedroom Fair Market Rent, and state and local income tax on a $75,000 salary for a single filer, first metro over second.
| Comparison | Median Wage | 1BR Rent / mo | Tax on $75k | Median Buys More In |
|---|
Featured Occupation Comparisons
National BLS OEWS median wage and employment, first occupation over second.
| Comparison | National Median | BLS Jobs | Higher Median |
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How the comparisons are calculated
Metro comparisons use each area's BLS OEWS May 2025 median wage across all occupations, HUD's FY2027 one-bedroom Fair Market Rent, and the state and local income tax a single filer owes on $75,000 under 2026 rules. "Median buys more in" divides each median by the area's living-cost index from the EPI Family Budget Calculator; it reads "Not published" where BLS or EPI publishes no figure for the area.
Occupation comparisons use national BLS OEWS medians and job counts. Each comparison page goes further: the occupations both metros publish wages for, or each occupation's 10th to 90th percentile pay and the metros where both are published. Pick any two metros or occupations above to build your own comparison.
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Jefferson City, MO
Executive Takeaway & Purchasing Power Verdict
The BLS median wage across all occupations is $56,950 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and $48,030 in Jefferson City, MO, 15.7% lower in Jefferson City. HUD's one-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,530 a month in Austin and $735 in Jefferson City (52.0% lower in Jefferson City). On a $75,000 salary a single filer pays no state and local income tax in Austin, versus $2,534 in Jefferson City. EPI family budgets put overall living costs 24.0% lower in Jefferson City, so $75,000 in Austin goes about as far as $57,010 in Jefferson City. Adjusted for living costs, the median wage buys about 11.0% more in Jefferson City, MO than in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX vs Jefferson City, MO: Shared Occupation Wages
Comparing empirical BLS median wages across common professions in both labor markets.
| Category / Role | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX Median | Jefferson City, MO Median | Advantage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief ExecutivesSOC 11-1011 | $288,150 | $113,090 | -60.8% | Dossier |
| Architectural and Engineering ManagersSOC 11-9041 | $176,540 | $160,470 | -9.1% | Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersSOC 11-3021 | $176,990 | $127,330 | -28.1% | Dossier |
| Financial ManagerSOC 11-3031 | $167,180 | $123,340 | -26.2% | Dossier |
| Marketing ManagersSOC 11-2021 | $164,920 | $118,540 | -28.1% | Dossier |
| Sales ManagersSOC 11-2022 | $151,760 | $121,840 | -19.7% | Dossier |
| Physician AssistantSOC 29-1071 | $134,550 | $135,340 | +0.6% | Dossier |
| Nurse PractitionerSOC 29-1171 | $128,050 | $128,710 | +0.5% | Dossier |
| Industrial Production ManagersSOC 11-3051 | $129,390 | $126,890 | -1.9% | Dossier |
| Human Resources ManagersSOC 11-3121 | $140,670 | $106,850 | -24% | Dossier |
| Data EngineerSOC 15-1243 | $139,960 | $97,560 | -30.3% | Dossier |
| Public Relations ManagersSOC 11-2032 | $130,770 | $92,550 | -29.2% | Dossier |
Head-to-Head Comparison Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX or Jefferson City, MO?
Jefferson City, MO is cheaper: its cost-of-living index (from EPI family budgets, U.S. = 100) is 95.5 versus 125.6 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX. HUD's one-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,530 a month in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and $735 in Jefferson City, MO.
How much do I need to earn in Jefferson City, MO to match $75,000 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX?
About $57,010. That scales $75,000 by the ratio of the two metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.6 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, 95.5 in Jefferson City, MO); it does not account for differences in taxes.
Do jobs pay more in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX or Jefferson City, MO?
The BLS median wage across all occupations is $56,950 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and $48,030 in Jefferson City, MO. Pay for a specific occupation can differ; the table on this page compares BLS medians for occupations published in both metros.
How do income taxes compare between Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Jefferson City, MO?
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX has no state income tax; a single filer earning $75,000 pays $0 in state and local income tax there. Jefferson City, MO has a top state rate of 4.7%; a single filer earning $75,000 pays $2,534 in state and local income tax there. Federal income tax and FICA are the same in both.
Where does the median wage go further?
Dividing each metro's BLS median wage by its cost-of-living index, the median wage buys about 11.0% more in Jefferson City, MO than in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX vs. Jefferson City, MO: Reverse Comparison & Regional Hubs
Side-by-side wage, living expense, & tax arbitrage comparison for Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX vs. Jefferson City, MO. Empirical BLS earnings & HUD. Official 2026 economic data for Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX vs. Jefferson City, MO compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
Jefferson City, MO is cheaper: its cost-of-living index (from EPI family budgets, U.S. = 100) is 95.5 versus 125.6 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX. HUD's one-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,530 a month in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and $735 in Jefferson City, MO.
About $57,010. That scales $75,000 by the ratio of the two metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.6 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, 95.5 in Jefferson City, MO); it does not account for differences in taxes.