Cost of Living Comparison Between Alton, IL and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Alton, IL and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,015 per month in Alton, IL vs $2,695 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,960 per month in Alton, IL vs $4,184 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,905 per month in Alton, IL vs $5,674 in Austin, TX, rent included.

Alton, IL is about 25% cheaper than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Alton, IL and Austin, TX sit above the global median – Alton, IL by 47%, Austin, TX by 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.87 $14.87

$19.82 $19.82

-24.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.6 $55.6

$83.9 $83.9

-33.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 $8.17

$12.30 $12.30

-33.58%

Cappuccino

$4.72 $4.72

$5.48 $5.48

-13.87%

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

$1.41 $1.41

$3.72 $3.72

-62.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 $1.09

$2.36 $2.36

-53.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.92 $3.92

$7.76 $7.76

-49.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 $4.87

$9.14 $9.14

-46.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.13 $1.13

-23.01%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 $2.39

$3.75 $3.75

-36.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$3.43 $3.43

-9.33%

Eggs

$3.79 $3.79

$4.35 $4.35

-12.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.21 $12.21

$13.14 $13.14

-7.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.10 $10.10

$14.39 $14.39

-29.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.76 $17.76

$17.20 $17.20

3.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$4.49 $4.49

-4.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.44 $1.44

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.67 $4.67

6.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.97 $4.97

-2.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.00 $3.00

-25.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.69 $2.69

5.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.85 $1.85

9.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.09 $4.09

$2.18 $2.18

87.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.00 $11.00

$9.45 $9.45

16.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.93 $12.93

$15.11 $15.11

-14.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.89 $2.89

-28.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.49 $3.49

25.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 $4.45

$2.81 $2.81

58.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.58 $1.58

85.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.75 $17.75

$35.18 $35.18

-49.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.90 $0.90

13.33%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$35.9K $35.9K

-21.00%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$27.7K $27.7K

-3.08%

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

$438 $438

$222 $222

97.19%

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

$44.51 $44.51

$58.3 $58.3

-23.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 $64.8

$69.1 $69.1

-6.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.22 $27.22

$66.2 $66.2

-58.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$14.52 $14.52

$13.78 $13.78

5.37%

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

$1,526 $1,526

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K $12.8K

$21.2K $21.2K

-39.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.35 $39.35

$54.6 $54.6

-27.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.24 $33.24

$44.01 $44.01

-24.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.8 $63.8

$89.7 $89.7

-28.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.8 $74.8

$109 $109

-31.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$749 $749

$1,942 $1,942

-61.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 $641

$1,258 $1,258

-49.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,118 $1,118

$3,762 $3,762

-70.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 $1,309

$2,592 $2,592

-49.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,562 $1,562

$7,403 $7,403

-78.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,453 $1,453

$3,203 $3,203

-54.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,799 $3,799

$5,085 $5,085

-25.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

-6.83%

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

Last update for Alton, IL: September 1, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $749 in Alton, IL 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 34% higher in Austin, TX, 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 $56.0 in Alton, IL versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $388 vs $417 – making Alton, IL 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

Alton, IL vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX costs about 34% more than Alton, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,023 per month in Alton, IL 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 Alton, IL, 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 $2,015 in Alton, IL and $2,695 in Austin, TX. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Austin, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Alton, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,015, than in Austin, TX at $2,695. In Alton, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Austin, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Alton, IL – 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 Alton, IL. 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.