Cost of Living Comparison Between Acton, MA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Acton, MA and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,667 per month in Acton, MA vs $2,659 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,976 per month in Acton, MA vs $4,101 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,286 per month in Acton, MA vs $5,542 in Austin, TX, rent included.

Acton, MA and Austin, TX have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Acton, MA and Austin, TX sit above the global median – Acton, MA by 99%, Austin, TX by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.06 $19.06

$19.63 $19.63

-2.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.0 $99.0

$75.1 $75.1

31.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.37 $13.37

$9.92 $9.92

34.78%

Cappuccino

$4.54 $4.54

$5.67 $5.67

-19.93%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.84 $5.84

0.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.30 $7.30

$7.77 $7.77

-6.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.09 $1.09

8.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.41 $3.41

-2.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.43 $3.43

-7.58%

Eggs

$6.63 $6.63

$4.39 $4.39

51.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.94 $10.94

$11.95 $11.95

-8.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 $9.39

$10.76 $10.76

-12.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.96 $20.96

$14.29 $14.29

46.68%

Apples (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.84 $4.84

13.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.55 $1.55

38.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$4.46 $4.46

29.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.93 $5.93

$3.91 $3.91

51.66%

Potato (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.74 $2.74

57.66%

Onion (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$2.74 $2.74

63.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.04 $2.04

60.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.25 $2.25

1.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.12 $11.12

$8.93 $8.93

24.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.66 $10.66

$14.85 $14.85

-28.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.35 $2.35

-7.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$3.57 $3.57

-59.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.47 $1.47

34.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.02 $4.02

$4.28 $4.28

-6.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.84 $1.84

-7.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.87 $28.87

$35.54 $35.54

-18.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.72 $0.72

20.83%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.8K $29.8K

$25.7K $25.7K

15.95%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.10%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$316 $316

$174 $174

82.20%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$68.6 $68.6

$60.2 $60.2

13.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.0 $64.0

$66.3 $66.3

-3.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.62 $24.62

$62.8 $62.8

-60.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$12.90 $12.90

$15.24 $15.24

-15.35%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,492 $1,492

$1,387 $1,387

7.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$22.2K $22.2K

6.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$56.7 $56.7

-8.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.96 $31.96

$45.34 $45.34

-29.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 $66.5

$86.5 $86.5

-23.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 $81.8

$119 $119

-31.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,465 $3,465

$2,247 $2,247

54.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,377 $1,377

$1,430 $1,430

-3.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,677 $2,677

$3,778 $3,778

-29.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,273 $4,273

$2,641 $2,641

61.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,066 $9,066

$5,108 $5,108

77.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

6.45

2.48%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Acton, MA: June 2, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,465 in Acton, MA versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 77% higher in Acton, MA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Acton, MA versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $417 vs $377 – making Austin, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Acton, MA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,000 per month in Acton, MA and $3,989 in Austin, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Austin, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Acton, MA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Acton, MA and $75.0 in Austin, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,667 in Acton, MA and $2,659 in Austin, TX. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Austin, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Austin, TX. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Acton, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.