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 $2,699 per month in Acton, MA vs $2,706 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,027 per month in Acton, MA vs $4,169 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,354 per month in Acton, MA vs $5,633 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 102%, Austin, TX by 103%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.03 $19.03

$19.70 $19.70

-3.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$76.0 $76.0

33.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.74 $13.74

$9.86 $9.86

39.35%

Cappuccino

$4.38 $4.38

$5.48 $5.48

-20.07%

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

$2.68 $2.68

$2.65 $2.65

1.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.47 $7.47

$8.15 $8.15

-8.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.10 $1.10

6.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.39 $3.39

-0.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.38 $3.38

-9.76%

Eggs

$6.32 $6.32

$4.39 $4.39

43.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.55 $10.55

$12.10 $12.10

-12.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.68 $9.68

$10.84 $10.84

-10.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.51 $21.51

$14.68 $14.68

46.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.96 $4.96

10.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.51 $1.51

42.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$4.40 $4.40

33.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.98 $5.98

$4.10 $4.10

45.85%

Potato (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.81 $2.81

53.74%

Onion (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$2.87 $2.87

57.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$1.95 $1.95

63.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.18 $2.18

2.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.89 $10.89

$8.99 $8.99

21.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.68 $10.68

$15.11 $15.11

-29.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.33 $2.33

-7.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$3.43 $3.43

-57.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.54 $1.54

33.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.41 $4.41

-7.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.83 $1.83

-7.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.13 $29.13

$34.65 $34.65

-15.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.78 $0.78

6.41%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$26.0K $26.0K

14.43%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.12%

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

$313 $313

$175 $175

79.25%

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

$69.1 $69.1

$59.7 $59.7

15.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$65.5 $65.5

0.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.91 $24.91

$61.3 $61.3

-59.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$12.81 $12.81

$14.76 $14.76

-13.21%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,372 $1,372

11.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$22.2K $22.2K

4.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.6 $52.6

$56.5 $56.5

-6.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.46 $32.46

$45.29 $45.29

-28.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.7 $66.7

$85.0 $85.0

-21.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.1 $82.1

$118 $118

-30.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,505 $3,505

$2,201 $2,201

59.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 $1,329

$1,403 $1,403

-5.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,617 $2,617

$3,815 $3,815

-31.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,177 $4,177

$2,680 $2,680

55.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,935 $8,935

$5,110 $5,110

74.85%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,505 in Acton, MA versus $2,201 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 75% higher in Acton, MA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Acton, MA versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $418 vs $379 – 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 $4,049 per month in Acton, MA and $4,059 in Austin, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Austin, TX – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Acton, MA and $76.0 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 $2,699 in Acton, MA and $2,706 in Austin, TX. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Acton, MA – 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 Acton, MA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Austin, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.