Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Ames, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Ames, IA

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 5.2% cheaper than Ames, IA without rent, and 29.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 10.1% more expensive than Ames, IA without rent, and 28.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$18.07 $18.07

8.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$44.34 $44.34

71.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$9.04 $9.04

10.07%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.27 $5.27

6.45%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.95 $1.95

35.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.74 $1.74

25.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$2.99 $2.99

95.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$6.94 $6.94

14.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.01 $1.01

11.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.3 $3.3

$3.65 $3.65

-9.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.5 $3.5

$3.11 $3.11

12.54%

Eggs

$4.4 $4.4

$3.29 $3.29

33.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12 $12

$9.44 $9.44

27.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.6 $11.6

-7.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 $14.73

$14.09 $14.09

4.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$5.09 $5.09

-4.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.15 $1.15

32.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$5.79 $5.79

-21.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$5.1 $5.1

-23.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.76 $3.76

-27.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.75 $3.75

-26.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.99 $1.99

1.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.97 $1.97

10.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 $8.86

$9 $9

-1.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$16.23 $16.23

-7.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.71 $1.71

36.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$4.38 $4.38

-21.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.49 $1.49

-0.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.82 $42.82

$47.13 $47.13

-9.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.3 $4.3

$4.9 $4.9

-12.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.39 $1.39

30.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.63 $34.63

$49.16 $49.16

-29.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.8 $0.8

-8.75%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$24.7K $24.7K

3.09%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

3.06%

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

$177 $177

$189 $189

-6.59%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$48.48 $48.48

21.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 $64.8

$74.3 $74.3

-12.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.6 $62.6

$68.5 $68.5

-8.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

$19.74 $19.74

-48.48%

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$13.9 $13.9

5.90%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$1,470 $1,470

-6.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$30.2K $30.2K

-25.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$38.64 $38.64

45.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.46 $46.46

$42.65 $42.65

8.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$84.4 $84.4

2.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$116 $116

2.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,188 $2,188

$989 $989

121.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,395 $1,395

$837 $837

66.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,896 $3,896

$1,931 $1,931

101.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,689 $2,689

$1,676 $1,676

60.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 $4,414

$2,346 $2,346

88.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,161 $3,161

$2,182 $2,182

44.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,871 $4,871

$3,732 $3,732

30.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.02

7.14%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Ames, IA: October 28, 2025

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