Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Amherst, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Amherst, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Austin, TX versus $2,919 in Amherst, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $4,625 in Amherst, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,546 in Austin, TX versus $6,331 in Amherst, MA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 9% less than in Amherst, MA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Amherst, MA 118% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.85 $19.85

$19.79 $19.79

0.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$70.0 $70.0

6.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$9.33 $9.33

7.50%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$5.34 $5.34

3.37%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$3.08 $3.08

-9.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.42 $2.42

-13.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 $6.04

$8.14 $8.14

-25.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 $7.81

$7.67 $7.67

1.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.31 $1.31

-13.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.63 $3.63

-4.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$1.96 $1.96

74.49%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$4.58 $4.58

-4.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$14.05 $14.05

-12.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 $10.79

$5.02 $5.02

114.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 $14.36

$18.57 $18.57

-22.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$5.38 $5.38

-7.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.47 $1.47

2.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.48 $3.48

25.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$5.15 $5.15

-23.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$0.98 $0.98

179.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$0.98 $0.98

182.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.55 $2.55

-22.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.97 $1.97

15.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.74 $8.74

$10.46 $10.46

-16.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$13.31 $13.31

11.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.91 $2.91

-22.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.43 $3.43

4.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.95 $1.95

-21.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.09 $43.09

$28.15 $28.15

53.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 $4.45

$2.54 $2.54

75.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.41 $1.41

28.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$28.08 $28.08

25.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.87 $0.87

-14.94%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$30.4K $30.4K

-16.03%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.5K $25.5K

3.62%

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

$170 $170

$194 $194

-12.36%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$57.4 $57.4

4.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$78.7 $78.7

-14.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 $61.6

$120 $120

-48.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$7.05 $7.05

39.43%

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$10.57 $10.57

43.24%

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

$1,381 $1,381

$2,740 $2,740

-49.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$27.2K $27.2K

-19.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$40.77 $40.77

39.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.94 $45.94

$44.15 $44.15

4.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$83.4 $83.4

3.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$143 $143

-16.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,847 $1,847

18.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 $1,417

$1,603 $1,603

-11.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,801 $3,801

$4,785 $4,785

-20.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,711 $2,711

$3,445 $3,445

-21.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,204 $7,204

$4,039 $4,039

78.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,239 $3,239

$4,112 $4,112

-21.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,914 $4,914

$4,910 $4,910

0.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.22

3.70%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 27, 2026

Last update for Amherst, MA: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,183 in Austin, TX and $1,847 in Amherst, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $70.0 in Amherst, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $361 per month, with Amherst, MA 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 Amherst, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Austin, TX pays 0% more on average, 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: $2,183 in Austin, TX versus $1,847 in Amherst, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,381 in Austin, TX versus $2,740 in Amherst, MA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Amherst, MA pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Amherst, MA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Amherst, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.