Cost of Living Comparison Between Augusta, ME and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Augusta, ME and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,198 in Augusta, ME versus $2,701 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,216 in Augusta, ME versus $4,086 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,234 in Augusta, ME versus $5,470 in Austin, TX.

Living in Augusta, ME costs roughly 19% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Augusta, ME 65% above, Austin, TX 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.77 $19.77

$19.97 $19.97

-1.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$74.5 $74.5

1.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.41 $7.41

$9.85 $9.85

-24.77%

Cappuccino

$4.97 $4.97

$5.79 $5.79

-14.16%

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

$2.34 $2.34

$2.75 $2.75

-14.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.17 $2.17

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.87 $4.87

$5.98 $5.98

-18.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 $5.97

$8.11 $8.11

-26.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.10 $1.10

0.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.28 $3.28

4.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$3.37 $3.37

-48.37%

Eggs

$3.66 $3.66

$4.31 $4.31

-15.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.74 $16.74

$12.02 $12.02

39.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.99 $11.99

$10.58 $10.58

13.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.06 $19.06

$14.59 $14.59

30.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$5.04 $5.04

-16.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.57 $1.57

-15.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$4.38 $4.38

-29.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.51 $6.51

$4.07 $4.07

59.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.77 $2.77

-21.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.82 $2.82

16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.96 $1.96

39.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.23 $2.23

-30.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.11 $9.11

$8.75 $8.75

4.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.33 $13.33

$14.71 $14.71

-9.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.34 $2.34

24.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.47 $3.47

-41.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.52 $1.52

28.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.54 $2.54

$4.31 $4.31

-41.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.80 $1.80

-32.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.01 $28.01

$35.23 $35.23

-20.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.80 $0.80

12.50%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

17.03%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.8K $26.8K

-8.30%

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

$195 $195

$173 $173

12.39%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$58.5 $58.5

-1.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.1 $77.1

$67.1 $67.1

14.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.49 $29.49

$61.8 $61.8

-52.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$12.89 $12.89

$14.80 $14.80

-12.91%

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

$2,792 $2,792

$1,414 $1,414

97.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.0K $27.0K

$22.1K $22.1K

21.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.3 $67.3

$54.9 $54.9

22.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.52 $44.52

$46.67 $46.67

-4.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$87.6 $87.6

-3.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$119 $119

24.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,064 $1,064

$2,200 $2,200

-51.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$966 $966

$1,428 $1,428

-32.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,615 $1,615

$3,769 $3,769

-57.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,460 $1,460

$2,704 $2,704

-46.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,415 $2,415

$7,334 $7,334

-67.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,345 $2,345

$3,140 $3,140

-25.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,947 $1,947

$5,093 $5,093

-61.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.45

-0.31%

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

Last update for Augusta, ME: July 21, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,064 in Augusta, ME and $2,200 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 162% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $75.0 in Augusta, ME vs $74.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $376 per month, with Austin, TX 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

Augusta, ME vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Augusta, ME and Austin, TX differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($2,198 vs $2,701 including rent). Augusta, ME is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 162% lower in Austin, TX. 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: $1,064 in Augusta, ME versus $2,200 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,792 in Augusta, ME versus $1,414 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Augusta, ME – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,198 in Augusta, ME versus $2,701 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Augusta, ME but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Augusta, ME the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Augusta, ME gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.