Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, MN and New York, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, MN: $2,515 a month against $4,941 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $29,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, MN, United States
New York, NY, United States
Austin, MN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,515
/mo nomad
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,941
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, MN and in New York, NY

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

A single person spends $2,515 per month in Austin, MN vs $4,941 in New York, NY, rent included.

  • Austin, MN $2,515
  • New York, NY $4,941

A couple spends around $3,745 per month in Austin, MN vs $7,225 in New York, NY, rent included.

  • Austin, MN $3,745
  • New York, NY $7,225

A family of three spends $4,975 per month in Austin, MN vs $9,509 in New York, NY, rent included.

  • Austin, MN $4,975
  • New York, NY $9,509

Austin, MN is about 49% cheaper than New York, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Austin, MN and New York, NY sit above the global median – Austin, MN by 85%, New York, NY by 263%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, MN
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.88 $19.88
$28.55 $28.55
-30.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.9 $99.9
$118 $118
-15.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.20 $12.20
$15.04 $15.04
-18.88%
Cappuccino
$4.96 $4.96
$6.53 $6.53
-24.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$3.96 $3.96
-24.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$3.01 $3.01
-34.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.97 $4.97
$8.16 $8.16
-39.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86 $5.86
$9.84 $9.84
-40.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, MN
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.37 $1.37
-37.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.97 $2.97
$4.97 $4.97
-40.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 $1.97
$7.81 $7.81
-74.78%
Eggs
$2.66 $2.66
$5.97 $5.97
-55.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.80 $9.80
$18.91 $18.91
-48.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.46 $6.46
$18.04 $18.04
-64.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.04 $19.04
$19.05 $19.05
-0.05%
Apples (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$6.76 $6.76
-19.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 $1.23
$2.27 $2.27
-45.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.65 $3.65
$6.83 $6.83
-46.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$7.09 $7.09
-75.18%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 $2.45
$4.22 $4.22
-41.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 $2.22
$4.65 $4.65
-52.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.87 $2.87
-46.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.60 $2.60
-22.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.73 $9.73
$18.77 $18.77
-48.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$20.13 $20.13
-85.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$3.45 $3.45
-51.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 $3.02
$4.02 $4.02
-24.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, MN
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.91 $2.91
-21.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.5 $51.5
$139 $139
-62.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.94 $1.94
$3.08 $3.08
-37.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 $1.23
$2.12 $2.12
-41.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.27 $20.27
$41.96 $41.96
-51.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.17 $1.17
-15.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$34.5K $34.5K
-22.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$25.9K $25.9K
-2.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, MN
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 $185
$219 $219
-15.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4 $53.4
$74.2 $74.2
-28.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.7 $77.7
$70.2 $70.2
10.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, MN
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 $42.15
$112 $112
-62.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$74.9 $74.9
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.17 $10.17
$22.14 $22.14
-54.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, MN
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,306 $1,306
$3,558 $3,558
-63.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K $11.9K
$62.2K $62.2K
-80.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, MN
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0 $75.0
$75.6 $75.6
-0.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.0 $54.0
$51.2 $51.2
5.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 $105
$123 $123
-14.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166 $166
$140 $140
18.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, MN
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,471 $1,471
$4,499 $4,499
-67.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,280 $1,280
$3,078 $3,078
-58.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,519 $2,519
$9,447 $9,447
-73.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,111 $2,111
$5,190 $5,190
-59.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,819 $2,819
$18.1K $18.1K
-84.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,036 $2,036
$6,693 $6,693
-69.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, MN
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,220 $5,220
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.86
-4.23%

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

Last update for Austin, MN: October 24, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, MN
$1.3K
New York, NY
$3.1K 140% $1.8K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, MN
$316
New York, NY
$364 15% $47
Eating Out
Austin, MN
$312
New York, NY
$440 41.3% $129
Groceries & Markets
Austin, MN
$296
New York, NY
$563 90.2% $267
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, MN
$180
New York, NY
$175 2.5% $4.4
Getting Around
Austin, MN
$69
New York, NY
$164 139% $96
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, MN
$62
New York, NY
$156 150% $94

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,471 in Austin, MN versus $4,499 in New York, NY. 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 $100 in Austin, MN versus $118 in New York, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $296 vs $563 – making Austin, MN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, MN
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🕒 Local time
18:07 6:07 PM
19:07 7:07 PM
1 h ahead of Austin, MN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
8,804,190
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
  • Austin, MN New York, NY 1,580 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, MN
  • New York, NY

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
Austin, MN vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Austin, MN cheaper than New York, NY?
Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 96%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,773 per month in Austin, MN and $7,412 in New York, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Austin, MN, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,471 there versus $4,499 in New York, NY.
Is eating out cheaper in Austin, MN or in New York, NY?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Austin, MN and $118 in New York, NY. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Austin, MN and in New York, NY?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,515 in Austin, MN and $4,941 in New York, NY. That makes Austin, MN about 49% cheaper.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Austin, MN or in New York, NY?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,515 in Austin, MN and $4,941 in New York, NY. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Austin, MN or New York, NY more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Austin, MN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Austin, MN is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 49% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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