Is Austin cheaper than Wichita?

No. Wichita is cheaper: typical rent is $1,099 a month versus $1,852 in Austin — 41% lower. Median household income is $86,556 in Austin compared with $60,712 in Wichita, so Austin has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Austin or Wichita?

Austin is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 115 in Wichita — 5% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Austin or Wichita?

Austin has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Wichita — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

New search

City comparison

Austin, TX vs Wichita, KS

Austin, TX versus Wichita, KS is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,852 a month in Austin and $1,099 in Wichita, and median household income lands at $86,556 versus $60,712. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Austin takes job market, safety, and schools, while Wichita takes affordability and weather. The widest gap is median income, where Austin leads by 43% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Austin can feel further apart than Austin and Wichita do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Austin and Wichita reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Austin report Full Wichita report

Austin, TX

Rent: $1,852/mo
Median income: $86,556
Crime index: 109
Schools: A
Weather: 91°F

Wichita, KS

Rent: $1,099/mo
Median income: $60,712
Crime index: 115
Schools: A-
Weather: 85°F

Rent

41% cheaper

Wichita rent is 41% cheaper than Austin

Austin

$1,852/mo

Wichita

Winner

$1,099/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,099 a month in Wichita versus $1,852 in Austin, so Wichita is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $753/month back in your pocket — $9,036/year. Over five years that's $45,180 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Austin, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Wichita is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

43% higher

Austin's median income is 43% higher than Wichita

Austin

Winner

$86,556

Wichita

$60,712

What this means for your life

Median household income is $86,556 in Austin versus $60,712 in Wichita, so typical pay runs 43% higher in Austin — about $25,844 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. Wichita can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

5% lower crime

Austin's crime index is 5% lower than Wichita

Austin

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

Wichita

115 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Austin's crime index is 109 versus 115 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% 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 Wichita. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

5% higher scores

Austin's school scores are 5% higher than Wichita

Austin

Winner

A · 88/100

Wichita

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

Austin grades out at A (88/100) against A- (84/100) in Wichita — school scores run 5% higher in Austin. The citywide gap is modest. For families with kids it is still worth checking the specific campuses you would actually use, because a small composite lead can disappear — or reverse — two neighborhoods over. Wichita is only the better school story if a campus you already researched beats this composite.

Typical weather

31% more comfortable

Wichita weather is 31% more comfortable than Austin

Austin

91°F typical

Wichita

Winner

85°F typical

What this means for your life

Wichita scores 31% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 91°F in Austin and 85°F in Wichita. Austin reads as hot, long summers; Wichita reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Wichita is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Austin can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Austin

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 43% higher here ($86,556). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Austin is the stronger everyday city for households that care about calm streets and usable public schools. Safety and school scores both land here. You will still pick a neighborhood with care, but the citywide baseline is less of a gamble than in Wichita.

Open the Austin report →

Fit check

Who should choose Wichita

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% cheaper here at about $1,099 a month. Choose Wichita if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Wichita if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (85°F) beat Austin on this page's weather index by 31%. Austin may pay more or cost less, but Wichita is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Wichita report →

Bottom line

Austin vs Wichita, called

If the job market is your priority, Austin is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Wichita pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Austin offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Austin vs Wichita FAQ

Is Austin cheaper than Wichita?: No. Wichita is cheaper: typical rent is $1,099 a month versus $1,852 in Austin — 41% lower. Median household income is $86,556 in Austin compared with $60,712 in Wichita, so Austin has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Austin or Wichita?: Austin is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 115 in Wichita — 5% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Austin or Wichita?: Austin has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Wichita — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

Ready to move to Austin?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps