City comparison
No. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 174 in Phoenix, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Phoenix is cheaper. Median rent is $1,582 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Phoenix and Austin are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,729 in Austin, and median household income lands at $81,332 versus $93,658. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Phoenix wins on cost of living and Austin wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Phoenix and Austin are 868 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $147 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $93,658 in Austin, up $12,326 (15%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 162 in Austin, down 12 points (7%).
The move
Austin and Phoenix are 868 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, down $147 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $81,332 in Phoenix, down $12,326 (13%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 174 in Phoenix, up 12 points (7%).
Phoenix, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Phoenix and Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Phoenix rent is 9% cheaper than Austin
Phoenix
Winner$1,582/mo
Austin
$1,729/mo
Typical rent runs $1,582 a month in Phoenix versus $1,729 in Austin, so Phoenix is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $147, or $1,764 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Austin's median income is 15% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix
$81,332
Austin
Winner$93,658
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $81,332 in Phoenix, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Austin (about $12,326 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Phoenix can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
7% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 7% lower than Phoenix
Phoenix
174 (100 = avg)
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 174 in Phoenix (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 7% lower in Austin. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Austin, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Phoenix. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Phoenix and Austin are about even on typical weather.
Phoenix
80°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin
76°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Phoenix averages about 80°F (86°F highs); Austin averages about 76°F (85°F highs). Phoenix sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Austin sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Phoenix
Phoenix is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,582 a month. Choose Phoenix if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 7% lower than Phoenix (162 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Austin posts $93,658 median household income against $81,332 in Phoenix. That 13% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,729 in Austin.
With only $147 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,729 in Austin.
Austin leads on local pay ($93,658 median income vs $81,332), even though rent runs $1,729 versus $1,582 — skip Austin only if you are optimizing for the cheaper lease, not the paycheck.
Common questions
Ready to move to Austin?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Phoenix and Austin, plus other cities in AZ and TX.
