Is $90k good in Austin?

Yes — about $71,701 take-home with median rents near $1,850.

Austin or Miami for $90k?

Same paycheck; Austin rent is ~$550/month cheaper, Miami has higher insurance costs.

Austin vs Miami: Where Does $90k Go Further?

City War • 5 min read • Updated for tax year 2025 • Estimates, not tax advice

Quick answer: the paycheck is identical — both Texas and Florida take $0 state tax, leaving about $71,701 (~$5,975/mo). Miami wins on weather, Austin wins on rent: ~$1,850 vs ~$2,400 for a one-bedroom.

Same pay stub

Federal (~$11,414) and FICA (~$6,885) do not care which no-tax state you pick. The $550 monthly rent gap is the entire decision, worth ~$6,600 a year.

The hidden costs

Miami homeowners insurance and flood risk can erase the sunshine premium fast; Austin property taxes (often 1.8%+) punish buyers while renters skate. Car insurance runs higher in Miami too. Renters: Austin. Buyers with cash: closer than it looks.

Plug your actual rent into the calculator page math: $5,975 monthly minus rent leaves the real answer.

Method: 2025 federal brackets after the standard deduction ($15,000 single), Social Security 6.2% to $176,100, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% over $200k single). State figures use simplified progressive tables for CA/NY, published flat rates where flat, labelled planning estimates elsewhere. Excludes city tax, credits and itemized deductions.

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