Austin vs San Diego
Two markets on the list for people leaving LA. Here's how they stack up on price, pace and taxes, measured against what a typical LA home sells for.
| Austin, TX | San Diego, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $570K | $970K |
| Median single-family | $600K | $1.27M |
| Median condo | $365K | $618K |
| Median $/sq ft | $316 | $693 |
| Median days on market | 47 | 21 |
| Avg sale-to-list | 97.7% | 99.2% |
| Sq ft for $1M (at median $/sq ft) | 3,160 | 1,440 |
| Californians who moved to the state (2024) | 77,161 | n/a |
Redfin Data Center, May 2026, all residential unless noted. Typical LA County zip for reference: $904K median, $588/sq ft, 44 median days on market. Mover counts: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024, estimates with margins of error.
The short version
Austin is the less expensive of the two at the median, about $570K versus $970K in San Diego, roughly 41% less (Redfin, May 2026). $1 million covers roughly 3,160 square feet in Austin at the median price per square foot, versus about 1,440 in San Diego. San Diego homes have been moving faster, 21 median days on market versus 47 in Austin. San Diego is in California, so its income tax matches LA's. Texas has no personal income tax. About 77,000 people moved from California to Texas in 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024).
Taxes
Austin: None on wages (Texas has no personal income tax). San Diego: Same as LA (California, progressive, top rate 13.3%). Property tax, insurance and HOA costs vary by address in both places and can matter as much as income tax, so price them for any specific home.
Go deeper
Read the full guides: moving from LA to Austin and moving from LA to San Diego.
Common questions
Is Austin or San Diego cheaper?
Austin had the lower median sale price, about $570K versus $970K in San Diego (Redfin, May 2026), roughly 41% less at the median.
Which has lower state income tax, Austin or San Diego?
Austin has the lower state income tax. Texas has no personal income tax. By comparison, California has a progressive income tax with a top marginal rate of 13.3% (tax year 2026). Rates change, so confirm with each state and a CPA.
What does $1 million buy in Austin vs San Diego?
At the median price per square foot, $1 million works out to roughly 3,160 square feet in Austin and 1,440 in San Diego, versus about 1,700 at the LA median. A rough illustration, not a listing.
