Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and Austin, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Ames, IA is 5.5% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 23% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Ames, IA is 9.2% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 22% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.07 $18.07

$19.64 $19.64

-7.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.34 $44.34

$76.2 $76.2

-41.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.04 $9.04

$9.95 $9.95

-9.15%

Cappuccino

$5.27 $5.27

$5.61 $5.61

-6.06%

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

$1.95 $1.95

$2.64 $2.64

-26.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.19 $2.19

-20.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 $2.99

$5.84 $5.84

-48.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 $6.94

$7.92 $7.92

-12.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.13 $1.13

-10.62%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$3.3 $3.3

10.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$3.5 $3.5

-11.14%

Eggs

$3.29 $3.29

$4.4 $4.4

-25.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.44 $9.44

$12 $12

-21.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.6 $11.6

$10.68 $10.68

8.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.09 $14.09

$14.73 $14.73

-4.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$4.88 $4.88

4.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.52 $1.52

-24.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.53 $4.53

27.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.1 $5.1

$3.92 $3.92

30.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$2.72 $2.72

38.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.76 $2.76

35.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.01 $2.01

-1.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.18 $2.18

-9.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9 $9

$8.86 $8.86

1.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.23 $16.23

$14.96 $14.96

8.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.34 $2.34

-26.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.44 $3.44

27.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.48 $1.48

0.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.13 $47.13

$42.82 $42.82

10.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.9 $4.9

$4.3 $4.3

13.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.82 $1.82

-23.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.16 $49.16

$34.63 $34.63

41.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.8 $0.8

$0.73 $0.73

9.59%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

-2.99%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.3K $26.3K

-2.97%

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

$189 $189

$177 $177

7.06%

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

$48.48 $48.48

$58.9 $58.9

-17.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$64.8 $64.8

14.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.5 $68.5

$62.6 $62.6

9.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.74 $19.74

$10.17 $10.17

94.10%

Cinema Ticket

$13.9 $13.9

$14.72 $14.72

-5.57%

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

$1,470 $1,470

$1,378 $1,378

6.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K $30.2K

$22.4K $22.4K

34.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.64 $38.64

$56.3 $56.3

-31.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.65 $42.65

$46.46 $46.46

-8.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 $84.4

$86.7 $86.7

-2.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$119 $119

-2.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$989 $989

$2,188 $2,188

-54.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$837 $837

$1,395 $1,395

-40.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$3,896 $3,896

-50.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,676 $1,676

$2,689 $2,689

-37.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,346 $2,346

$4,414 $4,414

-46.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,182 $2,182

$3,161 $3,161

-30.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,732 $3,732

$4,871 $4,871

-23.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.02

6.45

-6.67%

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

Last update for Ames, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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