Cost of Living Comparison Between Appleton, WI and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Appleton, WI and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,142 per month in Appleton, WI vs $2,695 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,284 per month in Appleton, WI vs $4,184 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,426 per month in Appleton, WI vs $5,674 in Austin, TX, rent included.

Appleton, WI is about 21% cheaper than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Appleton, WI and Austin, TX sit above the global median – Appleton, WI by 56%, Austin, TX by 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.94 $17.94

$19.82 $19.82

-9.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.9 $65.9

$83.9 $83.9

-21.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 $10.96

$12.30 $12.30

-10.89%

Cappuccino

$5.33 $5.33

$5.48 $5.48

-2.74%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$3.72 $3.72

-30.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.36 $2.36

-3.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.41 $4.41

$7.76 $7.76

-43.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 $6.17

$9.14 $9.14

-32.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.13 $1.13

-12.39%

White Bread (500g)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.75 $3.75

-20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.66 $5.66

$3.43 $3.43

65.01%

Eggs

$4.72 $4.72

$4.35 $4.35

8.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.28 $14.28

$13.14 $13.14

8.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 $8.47

$14.39 $14.39

-41.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.28 $15.28

$17.20 $17.20

-11.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.49 $4.49

7.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.44 $1.44

-4.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.10 $3.10

$4.67 $4.67

-33.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$4.97 $4.97

-12.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$3.00 $3.00

-31.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.69 $2.69

7.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.85 $1.85

17.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.18 $2.18

42.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.88 $10.88

$9.45 $9.45

15.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$15.11 $15.11

1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.89 $2.89

-41.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.49 $3.49

0.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.81 $2.81

17.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.58 $1.58

-10.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.44 $22.44

$35.18 $35.18

-36.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$0.90 $0.90

6.67%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$35.9K $35.9K

-0.83%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$27.7K $27.7K

-10.54%

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

$177 $177

$222 $222

-20.49%

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

$44.91 $44.91

$58.3 $58.3

-22.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.0 $62.0

$69.1 $69.1

-10.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.62 $23.62

$66.2 $66.2

-64.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.87 $40.87

$14.76 $14.76

176.90%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$13.78 $13.78

6.75%

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

$1,531 $1,531

$1,526 $1,526

0.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.6K $31.6K

$21.2K $21.2K

49.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.91 $39.91

$54.6 $54.6

-26.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.11 $25.11

$44.01 $44.01

-42.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.2 $50.2

$89.7 $89.7

-44.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$109 $109

1.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,516 $1,516

$1,942 $1,942

-21.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,017 $1,017

$1,258 $1,258

-19.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,835 $1,835

$3,762 $3,762

-51.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$2,592 $2,592

-26.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,309 $2,309

$7,403 $7,403

-68.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,305 $2,305

$3,203 $3,203

-28.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,957 $3,957

$5,085 $5,085

-22.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.14

6.44

-4.66%

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

Last update for Appleton, WI: August 30, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,516 in Appleton, WI 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 29% 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 $66.0 in Appleton, WI versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $417 – making Appleton, WI 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

Appleton, WI vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Austin, TX is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,213 per month in Appleton, WI 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 Appleton, WI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Appleton, WI and $84.0 in Austin, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% 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 $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Appleton, WI, where all-in costs run around $2,142, than in Austin, TX at $2,695. In Appleton, WI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Austin, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Appleton, WI – 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 Appleton, WI. 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.