[yalurker]

Does anyone have experience with cost of living in the bay area vs Austin, TX? According to the cost of living calculator on CNN Money, $120,000 in San Francisco is equivalent to $70,000 in Austin.

Has anyone here moved from Austin to Silicon Valley or vice versa? How accurate are the online cost of living calculators to what you experienced in person?

[jstanderfer]

Having lived in Silicon Valley, Seattle and Austin, my estimation is that the amount of money required for a family to live the same lifestyle (owning similar level home, access to good schools, reasonable commute, etc.) in Austin as in Silicon Valley / SF is at least 2x. I'd estimate the differential to be significantly less for someone single or DINK.

[moocow01]

Its unfortunate but you'll typically win the adjusted salary comparison by comparing any other place in the US (of course except NY and possibly LA). The sense that Ive gotten is the average salaries float around 85-95 in Austin TX