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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,715 per month in Austin, TX vs $2,613 in Amherst, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,156 per month in Austin, TX vs $3,793 in Amherst, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,596 per month in Austin, TX vs $4,973 in Amherst, NY, rent included.

Austin, TX costs about 4% more than Amherst, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Austin, TX and Amherst, NY sit above the global median – Austin, TX by 98%, Amherst, NY by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$18.03 $18.03

9.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$78.4 $78.4

7.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$12.10 $12.10

1.65%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$6.06 $6.06

-10.07%

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

$3.62 $3.62

$2.75 $2.75

31.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.96 $1.96

22.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$6.72 $6.72

17.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$7.31 $7.31

21.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.91 $0.91

17.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.26 $3.26

12.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.39 $4.39

-23.92%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$3.88 $3.88

10.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$10.83 $10.83

20.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$9.99 $9.99

42.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$15.80 $15.80

5.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.96 $4.96

-9.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.44 $1.44

-1.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.65 $4.65

-1.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$5.06 $5.06

-7.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.64 $2.64

2.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.02 $3.02

-14.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.28 $2.28

-17.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.38 $2.38

-7.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$14.82 $14.82

-32.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$14.72 $14.72

2.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.12 $2.12

37.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.91 $3.91

-15.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.04 $2.04

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.90 $3.90

-30.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.17 $2.17

-23.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$30.51 $30.51

14.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.01 $1.01

-11.88%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.4K $35.4K

2.95%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

6.48%

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

$223 $223

$234 $234

-4.87%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$52.7 $52.7

8.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$65.9 $65.9

3.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$41.80 $41.80

56.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

$19.86 $19.86

-26.44%

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$13.25 $13.25

5.28%

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

$1,523 $1,523

$1,541 $1,541

-1.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$17.8K $17.8K

20.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$52.2 $52.2

1.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$44.93 $44.93

-4.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$96.5 $96.5

-11.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$115 $115

-10.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$1,579 $1,579

23.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$1,305 $1,305

-2.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$2,523 $2,523

49.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$2,130 $2,130

19.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$2,749 $2,749

161.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,405 $2,405

30.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$4,152 $4,152

19.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.03

7.30%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Amherst, NY: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $1,579 in Amherst, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 19% higher in Austin, TX, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Austin, TX versus $78.0 in Amherst, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $409 vs $381 – making Amherst, NY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX costs about 4% more than Amherst, NY, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,072 per month in Austin, TX and $3,920 in Amherst, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Amherst, NY, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Austin, TX and $78.0 in Amherst, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Austin, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,715 in Austin, TX and $2,613 in Amherst, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Amherst, NY – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Amherst, NY. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Austin, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.