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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,612 per month in Ashland, MA vs $2,659 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,902 per month in Ashland, MA vs $4,101 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,192 per month in Ashland, MA vs $5,542 in Austin, TX, rent included.

Ashland, MA is about 2% cheaper than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Ashland, MA and Austin, TX sit above the global median – Ashland, MA by 95%, Austin, TX by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.31 $25.31

$19.63 $19.63

28.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.3 $99.3

$75.1 $75.1

32.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.08 $12.08

$9.92 $9.92

21.77%

Cappuccino

$4.41 $4.41

$5.67 $5.67

-22.22%

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

$2.80 $2.80

$2.77 $2.77

1.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.17 $2.17

-4.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$5.84 $5.84

4.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.04 $7.04

$7.77 $7.77

-9.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.09 $1.09

-16.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.41 $3.41

-1.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$3.43 $3.43

52.48%

Eggs

$4.82 $4.82

$4.39 $4.39

9.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.03 $19.03

$11.95 $11.95

59.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.87 $12.87

$10.76 $10.76

19.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 $14.46

$14.29 $14.29

1.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$4.84 $4.84

-20.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.55 $1.55

-7.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$4.46 $4.46

-15.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.91 $3.91

6.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.74 $2.74

19.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.74 $2.74

-9.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.04 $2.04

-5.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.25 $2.25

-26.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.82 $12.82

$8.93 $8.93

43.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.02 $14.02

$14.85 $14.85

-5.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.35 $2.35

-24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.57 $3.57

-31.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.47 $1.47

34.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 $2.91

$4.28 $4.28

-32.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.84 $1.84

20.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.00 $29.00

$35.54 $35.54

-18.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.72 $0.72

27.78%

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

$28.4K $28.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

10.48%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.62%

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

$195 $195

$174 $174

12.08%

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

$53.9 $53.9

$60.2 $60.2

-10.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$66.3 $66.3

1.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.68 $42.68

$62.8 $62.8

-31.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.22 $15.22

$15.24 $15.24

-0.13%

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

$1,282 $1,282

$1,387 $1,387

-7.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K $29.9K

$22.2K $22.2K

34.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.63 $46.63

$56.7 $56.7

-17.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.17 $34.17

$45.34 $45.34

-24.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.8 $53.8

$86.5 $86.5

-37.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$119 $119

24.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,576 $1,576

$2,247 $2,247

-29.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,362 $1,362

$1,430 $1,430

-4.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,661 $2,661

$3,778 $3,778

-29.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,238 $2,238

$2,641 $2,641

-15.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,015 $5,015

$7,044 $7,044

-28.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,266 $4,266

$3,162 $3,162

34.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.45

-1.09%

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

Last update for Ashland, MA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,576 in Ashland, MA versus $2,247 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 $99.0 in Ashland, MA versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $377 – making Austin, TX 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

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

Austin, TX costs about 2% more than Ashland, MA, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,917 per month in Ashland, MA and $3,989 in Austin, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ashland, MA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,612 in Ashland, MA and $2,659 in Austin, TX. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,282 per month in Ashland, MA and $1,387 in Austin, TX. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,612 in Ashland, MA and $2,659 in Austin, TX. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Ashland, MA – 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 Ashland, MA. 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.