Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Abilene, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Abilene, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $2,068 in Abilene, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $3,093 in Abilene, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $4,118 in Abilene, TX.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 28% more expensive than in Abilene, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Abilene, TX 50% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$18.23 $18.23

9.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$58.9 $58.9

42.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$9.04 $9.04

35.73%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.09 $5.09

10.61%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$2.28 $2.28

57.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.79 $1.79

32.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.02 $5.02

55.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$9.20 $9.20

-1.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.95 $0.95

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.21 $3.21

13.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.25 $2.25

47.11%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$3.85 $3.85

15.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$10.34 $10.34

25.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$13.43 $13.43

9.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$14.37 $14.37

21.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$3.15 $3.15

46.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$2.88 $2.88

-49.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$2.92 $2.92

63.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$2.59 $2.59

91.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.19 $2.19

37.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.52 $3.52

-22.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.50 $2.50

-22.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.97 $1.97

11.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$7.43 $7.43

24.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$11.87 $11.87

25.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.35 $2.35

22.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.77 $3.77

-4.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.80 $1.80

-8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

$52.1 $52.1

-19.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.85 $0.85

11.76%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$19.2K $19.2K

86.41%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$26.3K $26.3K

2.07%

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

$229 $229

$165 $165

39.12%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$70.6 $70.6

-17.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$62.9 $62.9

10.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$20.34 $20.34

223.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$11.92 $11.92

16.28%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$1,711 $1,711

-12.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$42.86 $42.86

25.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$28.87 $28.87

53.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$93.4 $93.4

-2.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$59.3 $59.3

82.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,162 $1,162

66.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$947 $947

33.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$1,791 $1,791

110.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$1,608 $1,608

61.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$1,722 $1,722

326.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$1,675 $1,675

92.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$3,311 $3,311

52.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.08

5.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Abilene, TX: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $1,162 in Abilene, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 52% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $59.0 in Abilene, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $355 per month, with Abilene, 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

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

Austin, TX and Abilene, TX differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($2,646 vs $2,068 including rent). Abilene, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 52% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $1,162 in Abilene, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Abilene, TX – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,646 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,068 in Abilene, TX – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,068 in Abilene, TX versus $2,646 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Abilene, TX but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Abilene, TX 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 Abilene, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.