Cost of Living Comparison Between Amherst, MA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Amherst, MA and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,033 in Amherst, MA versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,694 in Amherst, MA versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,355 in Amherst, MA versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Amherst, MA is roughly 14% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Amherst, MA 126% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.33 $20.33

$19.63 $19.63

3.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.1 $70.1

$75.1 $75.1

-6.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.37 $9.37

$9.92 $9.92

-5.54%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$5.67 $5.67

-4.59%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.77 $2.77

10.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.17 $2.17

13.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.84 $5.84

36.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 $7.36

$7.77 $7.77

-5.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.09 $1.09

20.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.41 $3.41

10.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.43 $3.43

-40.82%

Eggs

$4.54 $4.54

$4.39 $4.39

3.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.94 $13.94

$11.95 $11.95

16.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$10.76 $10.76

-52.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.57 $18.57

$14.29 $14.29

29.95%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.84 $4.84

9.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.55 $1.55

-2.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$4.46 $4.46

-19.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$3.91 $3.91

26.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.74 $2.74

-62.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.74 $2.74

-64.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.04 $2.04

21.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.25 $2.25

-12.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.42 $10.42

$8.93 $8.93

16.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.70 $13.70

$14.85 $14.85

-7.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.35 $2.35

26.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.57 $3.57

-3.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.47 $1.47

31.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.53 $27.53

$42.98 $42.98

-35.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 $2.62

$4.28 $4.28

-38.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.84 $1.84

-25.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.87 $27.87

$35.54 $35.54

-21.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.72 $0.72

22.22%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

18.16%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.83%

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

$197 $197

$174 $174

13.43%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$60.2 $60.2

-2.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.2 $78.2

$66.3 $66.3

18.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$119 $119

$62.8 $62.8

89.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.09 $7.09

$9.83 $9.83

-27.87%

Cinema Ticket

$10.63 $10.63

$15.24 $15.24

-30.25%

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

$2,753 $2,753

$1,387 $1,387

98.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.0K $28.0K

$22.2K $22.2K

26.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.18 $40.18

$56.7 $56.7

-29.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.51 $44.51

$45.34 $45.34

-1.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 $85.5

$86.5 $86.5

-1.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$119 $119

21.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$2,247 $2,247

-18.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,600 $1,600

$1,430 $1,430

11.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,823 $4,823

$3,778 $3,778

27.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,473 $3,473

$2,641 $2,641

31.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,019 $4,019

$7,044 $7,044

-42.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,027 $4,027

$3,162 $3,162

27.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,837 $4,837

$5,108 $5,108

-5.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.22

6.45

-3.57%

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

Last update for Amherst, MA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,829 in Amherst, MA and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Amherst, MA vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $363 vs $377 per month, with Amherst, MA 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

Amherst, MA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Austin, TX earns 6% less. 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: $1,829 in Amherst, MA versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,753 in Amherst, MA versus $1,387 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Amherst, MA pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Amherst, MA and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Amherst, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.