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
55/ 10045% cheaper than New York
+61% rent since Jul 2026
$4,375/mo
Median Income
45/100
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
72/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,814/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$1,417/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$6,602/month
Food & Groceries
68/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.1/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$2.8/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$2.2/kg
Transportation
55/100
Monthly Transit Pass$41.25/month
One-Way Ticket$2.75/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.8/km
Utilities
52/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$172.6/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$55/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$45/month
Healthcare
68/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$120/visit
Dentist Visit$140/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$25/course
Education
65/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$1,200/month
International Primary School (yearly)$18,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$600/course
Entertainment
62/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$14/ticket
Theater Ticket$50/ticket
Museum Entry$18/ticket
Clothing
68/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$75/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$45/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$105/pair
Personal Care
58/100
Haircut (Men)$25/cut
Haircut (Women)$50/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$6.5/bottle
Dining Out
65/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$18/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$75/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$11/meal
Childcare
72/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$1,500/month
Babysitter (per hour)$18/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$28/pack
Fitness & Sports
60/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$55/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$25/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$10/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

184 Mbps
Internet Speed
$350
Coworking/Month
excellent
Café WiFi
high
English Level
large
Nomad Community
68/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: East Austin, South Congress, Downtown

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin cheap to live in?

Austin has a cost of living index of 55/100, where New York = 100. It is 45% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,960–$2,744 per month.

How much does rent cost in Austin?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Austin costs approximately $2,814/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $1,417/month.

Is Austin good for digital nomads?

Austin has a large digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 184 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 $4,375 USD. The income tax rate is around 0%.

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

Austin (cost index 55) is 45% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,125/month by moving from New York to Austin.

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