Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 100.1 → 98.1
Rent Delta: +$32/mo

Cons of Moving

  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - More environmental violations

Moving from Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 100.1 to 98.1 (100 = US average), so a Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell salary needs to be multiplied by 0.98 to hold the same purchasing power in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,820/month in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell to $1,852/month in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos - a higher monthly bill of $32, or $384/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $72,107 in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell versus $71,789 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos - a raw gap of $318 lower. The Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos labor market has 1,265,270 tracked jobs against 2,837,930 in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell and Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos are 300 and 395 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 14.4:1 at origin versus 14.7:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $6,591/year in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell versus $7,566/year in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos. Our composite verdict - Less Favorable - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 100.1
RPP 98.1
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,820/mo
$1,852/mo
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
💼 Wages
$72,107
$71,789
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
🔒 Crime
300 per 100K
395 per 100K
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
🎓 Schools
14.4:1
14.7:1
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
👶 Childcare
$6,591/yr
$7,566/yr
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
🌿 Environment
2663 violations
33822 violations
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell to see what you'd need to earn in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
-

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos more expensive than Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos has an RPP of 98.1 compared to Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell's 100.1 (100 = national average). Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is $1,852/mo vs $1,820/mo in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell.
What are salaries like in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos compared to Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
The median salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is $71,789 compared to $72,107 in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell. That's a -$318 difference.
Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos safer than Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
The violent crime rate near Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is 395 per 100K vs 300 per 100K near Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell (state-level data). Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos to match my Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell salary by 0.98. For example, a $75,000 salary in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell would need to be $73,507 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Less Favorable" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Less Favorable" means the origin edges ahead on balance. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

Explore PlainRelocate

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)