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 $2,696 per month in Alton, IL vs $2,701 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,887 per month in Alton, IL vs $4,086 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,079 per month in Alton, IL vs $5,470 in Austin, TX, rent included.

Alton, IL and Austin, TX have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Alton, IL and Austin, TX sit above the global median – Alton, IL by 102%, Austin, TX by 102%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.54 $19.54

$19.97 $19.97

-2.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.2 $66.2

$74.5 $74.5

-11.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.81 $11.81

$9.85 $9.85

19.90%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$5.79 $5.79

-11.40%

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

$2.13 $2.13

$2.75 $2.75

-22.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.17 $2.17

-12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.07 $5.07

$5.98 $5.98

-15.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.40 $6.40

$8.11 $8.11

-21.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.10 $1.10

-24.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.28 $3.28

-18.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.24 $6.24

$3.37 $3.37

85.16%

Eggs

$3.77 $3.77

$4.31 $4.31

-12.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.83 $7.83

$12.02 $12.02

-34.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.70 $7.70

$10.58 $10.58

-27.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.03 $20.03

$14.59 $14.59

37.29%

Apples (1kg)

$6.73 $6.73

$5.04 $5.04

33.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.57 $1.57

64.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.02 $7.02

$4.38 $4.38

60.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.07 $4.07

26.78%

Potato (1kg)

$5.12 $5.12

$2.77 $2.77

84.84%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.82 $2.82

51.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.23 $2.23

16.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.80 $6.80

$8.75 $8.75

-22.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.89 $12.89

$14.71 $14.71

-12.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.34 $2.34

-20.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.47 $3.47

10.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.52 $1.52

34.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$4.31 $4.31

-31.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.80 $1.80

-11.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.80 $28.80

$35.23 $35.23

-18.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.80 $0.80

6.25%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$25.7K $25.7K

14.02%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.8K $26.8K

-6.39%

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

$241 $241

$173 $173

38.89%

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

$50.1 $50.1

$58.5 $58.5

-14.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$67.1 $67.1

-6.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.45 $43.45

$61.8 $61.8

-29.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$11.80 $11.80

$14.80 $14.80

-20.27%

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

$1,307 $1,307

$1,414 $1,414

-7.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$22.1K $22.1K

4.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$54.9 $54.9

2.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 $43.48

$46.67 $46.67

-6.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 $74.5

$87.6 $87.6

-15.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$194 $194

$119 $119

62.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,615 $1,615

$2,200 $2,200

-26.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 $1,338

$1,428 $1,428

-6.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,671 $2,671

$3,769 $3,769

-29.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,255 $2,255

$2,704 $2,704

-16.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,522 $1,522

$7,334 $7,334

-79.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,458 $1,458

$3,140 $3,140

-53.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,793 $3,793

$5,093 $5,093

-25.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.45

1.71%

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

Last update for Alton, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,615 in Alton, IL versus $2,200 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. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Alton, IL versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries tell a different story – $406 in Alton, IL vs $376 in Austin, TX – so Austin, TX 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

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,043 per month in Alton, IL and $4,052 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% 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 $66.0 in Alton, IL and $74.0 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 $2,696 in Alton, IL and $2,701 in Austin, TX. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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.