Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria, MN and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria, MN and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Alexandria, MN versus $2,706 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,460 in Alexandria, MN versus $4,169 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,693 in Alexandria, MN versus $5,633 in Austin, TX.

Living in Alexandria, MN costs roughly 18% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alexandria, MN 67% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.88 $14.88

$19.70 $19.70

-24.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.9 $58.9

$76.0 $76.0

-22.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 $9.82

$9.86 $9.86

-0.41%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$5.48 $5.48

-8.39%

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

$2.01 $2.01

$2.65 $2.65

-24.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.09 $2.09

-6.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.64 $5.64

$6.09 $6.09

-7.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 $7.03

$8.15 $8.15

-13.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.10 $1.10

-12.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.39 $3.39

-1.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.38 $3.38

11.83%

Eggs

$3.32 $3.32

$4.39 $4.39

-24.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.13 $9.13

$12.10 $12.10

-24.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.45 $11.45

$10.84 $10.84

5.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 $14.36

$14.68 $14.68

-2.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$4.96 $4.96

-1.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.51 $1.51

-20.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.63 $5.63

$4.40 $4.40

27.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.10 $5.10

$4.10 $4.10

24.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.81 $2.81

39.15%

Onion (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.87 $2.87

31.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.18 $2.18

-9.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.60 $10.60

$8.99 $8.99

17.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.79 $15.79

$15.11 $15.11

4.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.33 $2.33

-27.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.43 $3.43

32.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.54 $1.54

27.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$126 $126

$44.15 $44.15

184.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.41 $4.41

10.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.83 $1.83

-25.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.41 $29.41

$34.65 $34.65

-15.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.78 $0.78

10.26%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

37.19%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.42%

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

$219 $219

$175 $175

25.64%

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

$47.94 $47.94

$59.7 $59.7

-19.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.6 $73.6

$65.5 $65.5

12.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 $74.2

$61.3 $61.3

21.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49.89 $49.89

$9.89 $9.89

404.45%

Cinema Ticket

$10.03 $10.03

$14.76 $14.76

-32.05%

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

$998 $998

$1,372 $1,372

-27.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$22.2K $22.2K

33.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.81 $24.81

$56.5 $56.5

-56.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.37 $25.37

$45.29 $45.29

-43.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.8 $50.8

$85.0 $85.0

-40.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.1 $60.1

$118 $118

-49.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,057 $1,057

$2,201 $2,201

-51.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$884 $884

$1,403 $1,403

-36.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,153 $2,153

$3,815 $3,815

-43.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,846 $1,846

$2,680 $2,680

-31.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,835 $2,835

$7,133 $7,133

-60.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,803 $2,803

$3,078 $3,078

-8.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,340 $3,340

$5,110 $5,110

-34.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.45

-0.31%

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

Last update for Alexandria, MN: July 13, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,057 in Alexandria, MN and $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 53% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $59.0 in Alexandria, MN vs $76.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $379 per month, with Alexandria, MN cheaper across the board.

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

Alexandria, MN vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alexandria, MN wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Alexandria, MN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 53% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,057 in Alexandria, MN versus $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $998 in Alexandria, MN versus $1,372 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Austin, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $2,227 in Alexandria, MN versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Alexandria, MN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Alexandria, MN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Alexandria, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.