Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Alton and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Alton: $2,530 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Austin, TX outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Alton
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,530
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Alton and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Alton and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,530 per month in Alton vs $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent included.

  • Alton $2,530
  • Austin, TX $2,663

A couple spends around $3,777 per month in Alton vs $4,133 in Austin, TX, rent included.

  • Alton $3,777
  • Austin, TX $4,133

A family of three spends $5,024 per month in Alton vs $5,603 in Austin, TX, rent included.

  • Alton $5,024
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Alton is about 5% cheaper than Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Alton and Austin, TX sit above the global median – Alton by 87%, Austin, TX by 97%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alton
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.36 £19.78
$20.77 $20.77
26.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$105 £78.8
$84.6 $84.6
24.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 £8.00
$12.32 $12.32
-13.47%
Cappuccino
$5.55 £4.17
$5.63 $5.63
-1.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 £2.25
$3.72 $3.72
-19.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 £1.58
$2.50 $2.50
-16.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.03 £6.77
$8.05 $8.05
12.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.83 £5.87
$9.01 $9.01
-13.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alton
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 £1.41
$1.12 $1.12
67.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.09 £1.57
$3.75 $3.75
-44.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.37 £1.78
$3.26 $3.26
-27.30%
Eggs
$3.37 £2.53
$4.17 $4.17
-19.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.69 £9.52
$12.90 $12.90
-1.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.83 £8.12
$14.16 $14.16
-23.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.10 £12.83
$16.22 $16.22
5.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 £2.33
$4.33 $4.33
-28.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 £1.05
$1.46 $1.46
-4.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.00 £2.25
$4.51 $4.51
-33.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.33 £2.49
$4.34 $4.34
-23.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.67 £1.25
$2.58 $2.58
-35.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 £1.36
$2.35 $2.35
-22.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 £1.09
$1.78 $1.78
-18.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 £1.40
$2.22 $2.22
-15.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.32 £17.49
$9.88 $9.88
136.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 £7.98
$15.08 $15.08
-29.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 £1.76
$2.92 $2.92
-19.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 £2.01
$3.46 $3.46
-22.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Alton
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.34 £2.51
$1.49 $1.49
124.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.8 £72.6
$41.72 $41.72
132.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.49 £4.12
$2.73 $2.73
101.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.37 £2.53
$1.66 $1.66
103.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.82 £19.37
$35.30 $35.30
-26.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 £1.59
$0.95 $0.95
123.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K £29.1K
$36.0K $36.0K
7.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6K £30.4K
$27.1K $27.1K
49.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alton
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$366 £275
$229 $229
59.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.92 £13.44
$59.4 $59.4
-69.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.71 £30.54
$69.9 $69.9
-41.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alton
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.21 £33.92
$57.2 $57.2
-21.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.33 $16.33
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.61 £13.21
$14.28 $14.28
23.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alton
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,896 £2,173
$1,506 $1,506
92.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.1K £26.3K
$21.5K $21.5K
63.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alton
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113 £84.6
$52.8 $52.8
113.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.4 £40.77
$43.82 $43.82
24.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 £94.1
$84.8 $84.8
47.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.4 £73.0
$103 $103
-5.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alton
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,241 £931
$1,907 $1,907
-34.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$992 £744
$1,274 $1,274
-22.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,118 £1,589
$3,664 $3,664
-42.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,668 £1,252
$2,538 $2,538
-34.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,099 £3,825
$7,614 $7,614
-33.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,932 £2,950
$3,157 $3,157
24.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alton
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,121 $5,121
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.65
6.79
-31.52%

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

Last update for Alton: October 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Alton
$992
Austin, TX
$1.3K 28.4% $282
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alton
$425
Austin, TX
$358 15.6% $66
Eating Out
Alton
$391
Austin, TX
$354 9.4% $37
Groceries & Markets
Alton
$334
Austin, TX
$405 21.2% $71
Clothing & Footwear
Alton
$175
Austin, TX
$128 27% $47
Getting Around
Alton
$133
Austin, TX
$59 55.7% $74
Sport & Entertainment
Alton
$80
Austin, TX
$86 6.7% $5.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,241 in Alton versus $1,907 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $105 in Alton versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries tell a different story – $334 in Alton vs $405 in Austin, TX – so Alton wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇬🇧 Alton
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
03:00 3:00 AM
21:00 9:00 PM
6 h behind Alton
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
17,816
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to GBP – British Pound Converter

British Pound exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Alton Austin, TX 7,870 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Alton
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Alton and in Austin, TX compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,530 in Alton, $2,663 in Austin, TX – roughly 5% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Alton compared to Austin, TX?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,795 per month in Alton and $3,995 in Austin, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Alton and Austin, TX?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Alton, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Alton and in Austin, TX?
Public transport costs about 132% less in Alton. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Alton and Austin, TX?
Kindergarten costs $2,896 per month in Alton and $1,506 in Austin, TX. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Alton, where all-in costs run around $2,530, than in Austin, TX at $2,663. In Alton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Austin, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Alton or Austin, TX?
Families tend to lean toward Alton – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Alton or Austin, TX safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Alton and Austin, TX?
If budget matters most, go with Alton. 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.

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