Shaw, MS vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Austin, TX has a modeled overall cost index 55.2% higher than Shaw, MS.

Shaw, MS · modeled 2BR rent
$870 / month
Austin, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,995 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Shaw, MS and Austin, TX using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $3,848/month in Austin, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $196,175 in Austin, TX

Regional cost estimates: Shaw, MS uses Memphis, TN. Austin, TX uses Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 55.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$3,848
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$46.2K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Shaw, MS

Population:1K
Cost Index:
66.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$93K

Austin, TX

Population:979K
Cost Index:
103.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$558K

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Shaw, MS

The Magnolia State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Mississippi, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Austin, TX

The Lone Star State

979K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax
Climate
Humid subtropical

Notable Facts

  • •Live music capital
  • •Major tech hub
  • •SXSW festival city

Major Industries

TechnologyMusic IndustryEducationGovernment

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Shaw, MS vs Austin, TX

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 125.1%
Shaw, MS
$1,818
Austin, TX
$4,093
Difference
$2,274
more
Other
↑ 34.8%
Shaw, MS
$1,833
Austin, TX
$2,470
Difference
$637
more
Transportation
↑ 33.8%
Shaw, MS
$1,361
Austin, TX
$1,822
Difference
$461
more
Groceries
↑ 16.3%
Shaw, MS
$1,171
Austin, TX
$1,361
Difference
$190
more
Healthcare
↑ 27.2%
Shaw, MS
$656
Austin, TX
$835
Difference
$179
more
All Utilities
↑ 16.2%
Shaw, MS
$661
Austin, TX
$767
Difference
$107
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$650
To$1,585
↑ $935
1 Bed
From$730
To$1,685
↑ $955
2 Bed
From$870
To$1,995
↑ $1,125
3 Bed
From$1,180
To$2,525
↑ $1,345
Shaw, MSZIP-level data

1BR range: $730–$730/mo

Austin, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,490–$2,350/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Shaw, MS
$11,348
Monthly in Austin, TX
$3,848
Difference

Home Values

Shaw
Austin
$93K
Median Value
$558K
↓ -22.1%
YoY Change
↓ -5%
↓ -29.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +12.6%
$93K
Price Range
$272K - $1.26M

Homes in Austin are 501% more expensive than Shaw

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $7.3K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$613
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.9%
Rate difference

Shaw, MS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Mississippi State Tax
Effective: 4.9%
$7.3K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,803/month
$105.6K

Austin, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Shaw, MS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.6%

Austin, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Environment

Shaw
Austin
55 Moderate
Air Quality
52 Moderate
34.4%
Good Air Days
42.6%
99 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
54 days
Heat Days >95°F
98 days
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
54 days
Heat Days >95°F
98 days

Before moving from Shaw, MS to Austin, TX

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Austin, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Shaw, MS. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Shaw to Austin moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Austin, TX by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Shaw, MS vs Austin, TX

How do the cost estimates for Shaw, MS and Austin, TX compare?

Austin, TX has a modeled overall cost index 55.2% higher than Shaw, MS. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Shaw, MS, the model estimates $196,175 in Austin, TX. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Shaw, MS and Austin, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $870/month in Shaw, MS and $1,995/month in Austin, TX. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Mississippi and Texas on TaxTakeHome.com

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