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 $2,715 per month in Austin, TX vs $2,565 in Andover, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,156 per month in Austin, TX vs $3,828 in Andover, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,596 per month in Austin, TX vs $5,091 in Andover, MA, rent included.

Austin, TX costs about 6% more than Andover, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Austin, TX and Andover, MA sit above the global median – Austin, TX by 98%, Andover, MA by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$20.31 $20.31

-3.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$88.4 $88.4

-4.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.91 $11.91

3.27%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$4.04 $4.04

34.90%

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

$3.62 $3.62

$2.56 $2.56

41.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.46 $1.46

65.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$6.97 $6.97

13.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$7.39 $7.39

20.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.89 $1.89

-43.39%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$4.08 $4.08

-9.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.26 $4.26

-21.60%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$4.89 $4.89

-12.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$22.12 $22.12

-41.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$13.04 $13.04

9.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$17.36 $17.36

-3.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$7.22 $7.22

-37.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.08 $2.08

-31.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.56 $4.56

2.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.62 $1.62

67.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.70 $2.70

-4.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.16 $1.16

62.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.98 $2.98

-26.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$13.89 $13.89

-27.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$15.04 $15.04

0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.70 $1.70

71.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$1.94 $1.94

69.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.81 $1.81

-15.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$6.03 $6.03

-55.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.68 $1.68

-1.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$27.21 $27.21

28.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.04 $1.04

-14.42%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$36.3K $36.3K

0.41%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$25.1K $25.1K

7.71%

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

$223 $223

$194 $194

14.69%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$67.7 $67.7

-15.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$53.3 $53.3

28.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$35.55 $35.55

84.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$12.77 $12.77

9.24%

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

$1,523 $1,523

$826 $826

84.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$33.7K $33.7K

-36.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$58.8 $58.8

-9.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$38.52 $38.52

11.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$52.8 $52.8

61.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$78.8 $78.8

30.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$1,577 $1,577

23.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$1,335 $1,335

-5.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$2,814 $2,814

33.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$2,073 $2,073

23.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$2,552 $2,552

181.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,508 $2,508

25.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$5,810 $5,810

-14.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.12

5.72%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Andover, MA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $1,577 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 17% higher in Andover, MA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Austin, TX versus $88.0 in Andover, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $409 vs $463 – 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

Yes – Austin, TX is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,072 per month in Austin, TX and $3,848 in Andover, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Andover, MA, 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 $88.0 in Andover, MA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Austin, TX – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,715 in Austin, TX and $2,565 in Andover, MA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Andover, MA. 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.