Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Aurora, IL and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,607 a month against $2,774 in Aurora, IL, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Aurora, IL outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Aurora, IL, United States
Austin, TX, United States
Aurora, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,774
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,607
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Aurora, IL and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Aurora, IL and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,774 per month in Aurora, IL vs $2,607 in Austin, TX, rent included.

  • Aurora, IL $2,774
  • Austin, TX $2,607

A couple spends around $3,792 per month in Aurora, IL vs $4,031 in Austin, TX, rent included.

  • Aurora, IL $3,792
  • Austin, TX $4,031

A family of three spends $4,810 per month in Aurora, IL vs $5,454 in Austin, TX, rent included.

  • Aurora, IL $4,810
  • Austin, TX $5,454

Aurora, IL costs about 6% more than Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Aurora, IL and Austin, TX sit above the global median – Aurora, IL by 104%, Austin, TX by 92%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aurora, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.22 $14.22
$20.35 $20.35
-30.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.5 $59.5
$84.7 $84.7
-29.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 $11.78
$12.12 $12.12
-2.81%
Cappuccino
$5.40 $5.40
$5.65 $5.65
-4.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 $2.89
$3.68 $3.68
-21.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.36 $2.36
-3.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.85 $4.85
$7.87 $7.87
-38.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.87 $7.87
$8.82 $8.82
-10.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aurora, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.14 $1.14
-20.18%
White Bread (500g)
$3.53 $3.53
$3.69 $3.69
-4.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.31 $4.31
$3.31 $3.31
30.21%
Eggs
$3.64 $3.64
$4.15 $4.15
-12.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.92 $8.92
$12.98 $12.98
-31.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.49 $11.49
$13.86 $13.86
-17.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.23 $16.23
$16.34 $16.34
-0.67%
Apples (1kg)
$4.62 $4.62
$4.69 $4.69
-1.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.45 $1.45
19.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.73 $3.73
$5.11 $5.11
-27.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.18 $3.18
$4.52 $4.52
-29.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 $1.89
$3.08 $3.08
-38.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.38 $2.38
14.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.80 $1.80
-1.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 $1.63
$2.22 $2.22
-26.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.56 $10.56
$9.97 $9.97
5.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.70 $13.70
$15.05 $15.05
-8.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.91 $2.91
-20.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 $2.81
$3.33 $3.33
-15.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Aurora, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.22 $1.22
86.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.8 $96.8
$40.53 $40.53
138.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.04 $4.04
$2.78 $2.78
45.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.65 $1.65
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.86 $43.86
$35.39 $35.39
23.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.95 $0.95
14.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$34.2K $34.2K
-20.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$26.8K $26.8K
-2.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aurora, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 $174
$223 $223
-21.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.5 $51.5
$58.5 $58.5
-11.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.2 $55.2
$71.2 $71.2
-22.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aurora, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.52 $17.52
$53.0 $53.0
-66.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.75 $16.75
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.19 $12.19
$14.06 $14.06
-13.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aurora, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,470 $1,470
$1,459 $1,459
0.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$21.3K $21.3K
10.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aurora, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 $56.2
$52.5 $52.5
6.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2 $51.2
$42.75 $42.75
19.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.2 $89.2
$86.4 $86.4
3.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.6 $80.6
$104 $104
-22.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aurora, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 $1,594
$2,112 $2,112
-24.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,577 $1,577
$1,230 $1,230
28.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,856 $2,856
$3,863 $3,863
-26.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,215 $2,215
$2,407 $2,407
-7.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,141 $5,141
$7,426 $7,426
-30.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,361 $2,361
$3,060 $3,060
-22.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aurora, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,880 $3,880
$5,179 $5,179
-25.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.82
-5.43%

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

Last update for Aurora, IL: October 24, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Aurora, IL
$1.6K
Austin, TX
$1.2K 22% $346
Groceries & Markets
Aurora, IL
$356
Austin, TX
$410 15.2% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aurora, IL
$281
Austin, TX
$353 25.6% $72
Eating Out
Aurora, IL
$274
Austin, TX
$348 26.8% $74
Clothing & Footwear
Aurora, IL
$125
Austin, TX
$128 3% $3.8
Getting Around
Aurora, IL
$120
Austin, TX
$56 52.9% $63
Sport & Entertainment
Aurora, IL
$42
Austin, TX
$81 93.7% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,594 in Aurora, IL versus $2,112 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 33% higher in Austin, TX, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59 in Aurora, IL versus $85 in Austin, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $410 – making Aurora, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Aurora, IL
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
15:33 3:33 PM
15:33 3:33 PM
Same time as Aurora, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
180,542
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Aurora, IL Austin, TX 1,530 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Aurora, IL
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Aurora, IL vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aurora, IL or Austin, TX?
Aurora, IL costs about 6% more than Austin, TX, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Aurora, IL and in Austin, TX?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,161 per month in Aurora, IL and $3,911 in Austin, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Aurora, IL or Austin, TX?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aurora, IL, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,594 there versus $2,112 in Austin, TX.
How do dining costs compare in Aurora, IL and in Austin, TX?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $59 in Aurora, IL and $85 in Austin, TX. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Aurora, IL compared to Austin, TX?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,774 in Aurora, IL and $2,607 in Austin, TX. That makes Austin, TX about 6% cheaper.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Aurora, IL or in Austin, TX?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,774 in Aurora, IL and $2,607 in Austin, TX. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Aurora, IL or Austin, TX?
It depends on your priorities. Aurora, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,607 in Austin, TX to $2,774 in Aurora, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Aurora, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?