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 $3,187 per month in Acton, MA vs $2,695 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,765 per month in Acton, MA vs $4,184 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,344 per month in Acton, MA vs $5,674 in Austin, TX, rent included.

Acton, MA costs about 18% more than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Acton, MA and Austin, TX sit above the global median – Acton, MA by 132%, Austin, TX by 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.65 $17.65

$19.82 $19.82

-10.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$94.3 $94.3

$83.9 $83.9

12.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.60 $13.60

$12.30 $12.30

10.57%

Cappuccino

$5.53 $5.53

$5.48 $5.48

0.91%

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

$2.91 $2.91

$3.72 $3.72

-21.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.36 $2.36

16.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.03 $5.03

$7.76 $7.76

-35.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.22 $8.22

$9.14 $9.14

-10.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.13 $1.13

-15.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 $2.40

$3.75 $3.75

-36.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.43 $3.43

58.02%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.35 $4.35

8.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.09 $11.09

$13.14 $13.14

-15.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.54 $14.54

$14.39 $14.39

1.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.95 $17.95

$17.20 $17.20

4.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.49 $4.49

-2.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.44 $1.44

25.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$4.67 $4.67

-39.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 $4.02

$4.97 $4.97

-19.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.00 $3.00

-35.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.69 $2.69

1.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.85 $1.85

-0.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.18 $13.18

$9.45 $9.45

39.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.03 $9.03

$15.11 $15.11

-40.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.89 $2.89

-28.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.49 $3.49

22.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.90 $0.90

-1.11%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$35.9K $35.9K

3.17%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.7K $27.7K

-7.05%

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

$314 $314

$222 $222

41.28%

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

$62.5 $62.5

$58.3 $58.3

7.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.2 $72.2

$69.1 $69.1

4.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.15 $25.15

$66.2 $66.2

-61.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.14 $13.14

$13.78 $13.78

-4.64%

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

$1,861 $1,861

$1,526 $1,526

21.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K $30.5K

$21.2K $21.2K

43.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 $57.5

$54.6 $54.6

5.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.95 $38.95

$44.01 $44.01

-11.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.3 $80.3

$89.7 $89.7

-10.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.0 $99.0

$109 $109

-8.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,707 $2,707

$1,942 $1,942

39.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,846 $1,846

$1,258 $1,258

46.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,922 $2,922

$3,762 $3,762

-22.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,564 $3,564

$2,592 $2,592

37.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,105 $9,105

$5,085 $5,085

79.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.04

6.44

-6.21%

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

Last update for Acton, MA: September 1, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,707 in Acton, MA versus $1,942 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 79% higher in Acton, MA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Acton, MA versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries tell a different story – $354 in Acton, MA vs $417 in Austin, TX – so Acton, MA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Acton, MA costs about 18% more than Austin, TX, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,781 per month in Acton, MA and $4,042 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,187 in Acton, MA and $2,695 in Austin, TX. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,861 per month in Acton, MA and $1,526 in Austin, TX. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,187 in Acton, MA and $2,695 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.