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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,154 in Ames, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,214 in Ames, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,273 in Ames, IA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 25% more expensive than in Ames, IA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Ames, IA 57% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$18.20 $18.20

8.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$52.1 $52.1

60.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$12.07 $12.07

1.91%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.07 $5.07

8.09%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.65 $2.65

40.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.24 $2.24

5.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$4.10 $4.10

89.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$7.05 $7.05

29.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.90 $0.90

25.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.67 $3.67

2.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.36 $3.36

2.08%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$3.34 $3.34

30.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$10.16 $10.16

29.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$18.47 $18.47

-6.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.89 $5.89

-23.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.83 $1.83

-21.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$6.45 $6.45

-27.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.02 $5.02

-1.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$4.33 $4.33

-30.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.80 $3.80

-29.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.34 $2.34

-20.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.55 $2.55

-14.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$13.14 $13.14

-28.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.85 $15.85

-4.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.76 $2.76

4.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$5.05 $5.05

-30.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.01 $1.01

62.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

$35.29 $35.29

14.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$5.03 $5.03

-44.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.67 $1.67

-5.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$24.03 $24.03

46.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.91 $0.91

-1.10%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$25.3K $25.3K

41.82%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.1K $25.1K

10.38%

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

$222 $222

$160 $160

38.57%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$54.9 $54.9

6.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$68.5 $68.5

0.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$68.9 $68.9

-3.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$19.76 $19.76

-25.30%

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$15.77 $15.77

-12.62%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,376 $1,376

10.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$36.0K $36.0K

-41.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$58.7 $58.7

-7.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$44.80 $44.80

-1.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$89.9 $89.9

-0.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$106 $106

2.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,032 $1,032

88.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$823 $823

52.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$1,806 $1,806

108.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,513 $1,513

71.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,403 $2,403

208.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,224 $2,224

44.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$3,636 $3,636

39.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.02

6.98%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ames, IA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,032 in Ames, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 40% 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 $52.0 in Ames, IA. Groceries flip the comparison at $417 vs $438, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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 Ames, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ames, IA wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ames, IA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 40% 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,032 in Ames, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Ames, IA runs roughly 15% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,376 in Ames, IA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,154 in Ames, IA versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ames, IA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Ames, IA 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 Ames, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.