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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,719 per month in Austin, TX vs $2,774 in Andover, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,117 per month in Austin, TX vs $4,128 in Andover, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,515 per month in Austin, TX vs $5,483 in Andover, MA, rent included.

Austin, TX is about 2% cheaper than Andover, MA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Austin, TX and Andover, MA sit above the global median โ€“ Austin, TX by 103%, Andover, MA by 107%.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Austin, TX
Andover, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.99 $19.99
$30.25 $30.25
-33.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2 $76.2
$89.6 $89.6
-14.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.13 $10.13
$11.94 $11.94
-15.16%
Cappuccino
$5.49 $5.49
$6.27 $6.27
-12.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.90 $2.90
-6.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.42 $2.42
-11.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.07 $6.07
$6.20 $6.20
-2.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.04 $8.04
$8.18 $8.18
-1.71%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Andover, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.02 $1.02
6.86%
White Bread (500g)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.60 $3.60
-7.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.42 $3.42
$7.58 $7.58
-54.88%
Eggs
$4.32 $4.32
$4.19 $4.19
3.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.80 $11.80
$16.80 $16.80
-29.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.68 $10.68
$10.70 $10.70
-0.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.50 $14.50
$16.67 $16.67
-13.02%
Apples (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$3.47 $3.47
38.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 $1.50
$1.64 $1.64
-8.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.71 $6.71
-32.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.04 $4.04
$4.61 $4.61
-12.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.77 $2.77
-0.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$5.55 $5.55
-49.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$3.25 $3.25
-37.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.39 $2.39
-10.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.23 $9.23
$12.48 $12.48
-26.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.81 $14.81
$13.76 $13.76
7.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.90 $1.90
20.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 $3.53
$3.12 $3.12
13.14%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Austin, TX
Andover, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.95 $1.95
-22.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.64 $43.64
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 $4.29
$2.03 $2.03
111.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.42 $1.42
28.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.52 $35.52
$28.88 $28.88
22.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$0.87 $0.87
-11.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$29.9K $29.9K
-14.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$36.6K $36.6K
-28.18%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Andover, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$210 $210
-18.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.3 $60.3
$54.8 $54.8
10.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.2 $67.2
$81.6 $81.6
-17.60%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Andover, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.8 $62.8
$43.65 $43.65
43.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.85 $9.85
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.73 $14.73
$14.36 $14.36
2.58%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Andover, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,398 $1,398
$1,307 $1,307
7.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.8K $21.8K
$23.1K $23.1K
-5.54%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Andover, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 $55.1
$50.0 $50.0
10.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.66 $45.66
$76.3 $76.3
-40.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 $86.8
$120 $120
-27.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$132 $132
-12.49%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Andover, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,245 $2,245
$1,601 $1,601
40.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,401 $1,401
$1,329 $1,329
5.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,782 $3,782
$2,612 $2,612
44.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,708 $2,708
$2,256 $2,256
20.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,304 $7,304
$2,627 $2,627
178.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,331 $3,331
$2,363 $2,363
40.98%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Andover, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,910 $4,910
$5,707 $5,707
-13.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.71
-3.87%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Andover, MA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,601 in Andover, MA. 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 16% higher in Andover, MA, 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 $76 in Austin, TX versus $90 in Andover, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 vs $429 โ€“ making Austin, TX 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 Andover, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Andover, MA cheaper than Austin, TX?
Yes โ€“ Andover, MA is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,079 per month in Austin, TX and $4,161 in Andover, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Austin, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Austin, TX or Andover, MA?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Austin, TX and $90.0 in Andover, MA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Austin, TX and Andover, MA?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Andover, MA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Austin, TX or Andover, MA?
$2,000 is a stretch for both โ€“ monthly costs hit $2,719 in Austin, TX and $2,774 in Andover, MA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Austin, TX or Andover, MA more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Austin, TX โ€“ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Austin, TX or Andover, MA?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Austin, TX. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Andover, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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