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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,112 per month in Aurora, IL vs $2,659 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,464 per month in Aurora, IL vs $4,101 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,815 per month in Aurora, IL vs $5,542 in Austin, TX, rent included.

Aurora, IL is about 21% cheaper than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Aurora, IL and Austin, TX sit above the global median – Aurora, IL by 58%, Austin, TX by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.24 $15.24

$19.63 $19.63

-22.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.8 $61.8

$75.1 $75.1

-17.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.05 $11.05

$9.92 $9.92

11.39%

Cappuccino

$5.25 $5.25

$5.67 $5.67

-7.41%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.77 $2.77

-5.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.17 $2.17

4.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.09 $5.09

$5.84 $5.84

-12.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 $6.82

$7.77 $7.77

-12.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.09 $1.09

-25.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.41 $3.41

-0.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.43 $3.43

47.23%

Eggs

$4.12 $4.12

$4.39 $4.39

-6.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 $7.28

$11.95 $11.95

-39.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.54 $12.54

$10.76 $10.76

16.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.17 $14.17

$14.29 $14.29

-0.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.84 $4.84

-6.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.55 $1.55

1.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$4.46 $4.46

-17.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.91 $3.91

-19.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.74 $2.74

-31.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.74 $2.74

-2.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.04 $2.04

-8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.25 $2.25

-30.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.71 $8.71

$8.93 $8.93

-2.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.80 $13.80

$14.85 $14.85

-7.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.35 $2.35

-5.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$3.57 $3.57

-33.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.47 $1.47

50.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$102 $102

$42.98 $42.98

136.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.63 $4.63

$4.28 $4.28

8.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.84 $1.84

-5.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$35.54 $35.54

19.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$0.72 $0.72

38.89%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

-6.38%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.32%

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

$176 $176

$174 $174

1.61%

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

$51.1 $51.1

$60.2 $60.2

-15.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$66.3 $66.3

-1.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.43 $35.43

$62.8 $62.8

-43.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$11.15 $11.15

$15.24 $15.24

-26.84%

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

$1,331 $1,331

$1,387 $1,387

-4.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K $24.7K

$22.2K $22.2K

11.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.39 $49.39

$56.7 $56.7

-12.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.60 $47.60

$45.34 $45.34

4.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.7 $68.7

$86.5 $86.5

-20.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.5 $79.5

$119 $119

-33.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,384 $1,384

$2,247 $2,247

-38.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$888 $888

$1,430 $1,430

-37.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,140 $2,140

$3,778 $3,778

-43.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,222 $2,222

$2,641 $2,641

-15.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,745 $9,745

$7,044 $7,044

38.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,214 $3,214

$3,162 $3,162

1.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,897 $3,897

$5,108 $5,108

-23.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

6.45

1.09%

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

Last update for Aurora, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,384 in Aurora, IL 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.

Salaries run about 31% 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 $62.0 in Aurora, IL versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $349 vs $377 – making Aurora, IL 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

Aurora, IL vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX costs about 26% more than Aurora, IL, 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 $3,168 per month in Aurora, IL 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 Aurora, IL, 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 $62.0 in Aurora, IL and $75.0 in Austin, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,112 in Aurora, IL and $2,659 in Austin, TX. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Aurora, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,112, than in Austin, TX at $2,659. In Aurora, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Austin, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Aurora, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Aurora, IL. 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.