Cost of Living

Austin, United States

Live cost-of-living data for Austin — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
54/ 10046% cheaper than New York
-6% rent since Jul 2026
$5,000/mo
Median Income
35/100
Safety
0%
Income Tax
subtropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
65/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,750/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$1,400/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$3,100/month
Food & Groceries
50/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.1/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.95/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.5/kg
Transportation
55/100
Monthly Transit Pass$37/month
One-Way Ticket$2.75/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.8/km
Utilities
48/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$170/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$55/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$45/month
Healthcare
58/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$85/visit
Dentist Visit$136/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$18/course
Education
52/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$650/month
International Primary School (yearly)$15,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$500/course
Entertainment
52/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$11/ticket
Theater Ticket$45/ticket
Museum Entry$16/ticket
Clothing
48/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$58/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$36/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$85/pair
Personal Care
48/100
Haircut (Men)$22/cut
Haircut (Women)$45/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$5.5/bottle
Dining Out
52/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$14/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$65/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$10/meal
Childcare
55/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$900/month
Babysitter (per hour)$16/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$22/pack
Fitness & Sports
52/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$50/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$22/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$9/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

940 Mbps
Internet Speed
$350
Coworking/Month
excellent
Café WiFi
high
English Level
large
Nomad Community
72/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Downtown, South Congress, East Austin

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin cheap to live in?

Austin has a cost of living index of 54/100, where New York = 100. It is 46% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,940–$2,716 per month.

How much does rent cost in Austin?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Austin costs approximately $1,750/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $1,400/month.

Is Austin good for digital nomads?

Austin has a large digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 940 Mbps, café wifi reliability is excellent, and coworking spaces run about $350/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Austin?

The median net monthly salary in Austin is approximately $5,000 USD. The income tax rate is around 0%.

How does Austin compare to New York for cost of living?

Austin (cost index 54) is 46% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,150/month by moving from New York to Austin.

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