Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Apple Valley, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Apple Valley, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,695 per month in Austin, TX vs $2,491 in Apple Valley, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,184 per month in Austin, TX vs $3,626 in Apple Valley, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,674 per month in Austin, TX vs $4,760 in Apple Valley, MN, rent included.

Austin, TX costs about 8% more than Apple Valley, MN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Austin, TX and Apple Valley, MN sit above the global median – Austin, TX by 96%, Apple Valley, MN by 81%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$19.83 $19.83

-0.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$74.0 $74.0

13.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.07 $11.07

11.11%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.93 $5.93

-7.59%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.77 $2.77

34.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.26 $2.26

4.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.87 $6.87

12.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$7.92 $7.92

15.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.91 $0.91

24.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.47 $3.47

8.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.80 $3.80

-9.74%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$3.72 $3.72

16.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$10.32 $10.32

27.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$12.32 $12.32

16.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$18.22 $18.22

-5.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$6.18 $6.18

-27.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.46 $1.46

-1.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.31 $4.31

8.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.30 $5.30

-6.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.98 $1.98

51.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.78 $3.78

-28.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.34 $2.34

-20.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.65 $2.65

-17.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$11.08 $11.08

-14.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.23 $15.23

-0.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.75 $1.75

65.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.01 $3.01

15.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.94 $1.94

-15.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$5.09 $5.09

-44.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.70 $1.70

-7.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$24.02 $24.02

46.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.94 $0.94

-4.26%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$35.8K $35.8K

0.09%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

8.51%

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

$222 $222

$124 $124

78.95%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$49.55 $49.55

17.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$60.2 $60.2

14.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$42.23 $42.23

56.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$13.21 $13.21

4.31%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,356 $1,356

12.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$35.8K $35.8K

-40.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$57.8 $57.8

-5.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$44.24 $44.24

-0.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$74.7 $74.7

20.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$85.8 $85.8

26.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,560 $1,560

24.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,280 $1,280

-1.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,462 $2,462

52.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,160 $2,160

20.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,800 $2,800

164.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,392 $2,392

33.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.12

5.23%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Apple Valley, MN: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,560 in Apple Valley, MN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in Austin, TX versus $74.0 in Apple Valley, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $417 vs $405 – making Apple Valley, MN 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 Apple Valley, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX, $2,491 in Apple Valley, MN – roughly 8% apart. Austin, TX costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,042 per month in Austin, TX and $3,737 in Apple Valley, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,695 in Austin, TX and $2,491 in Apple Valley, MN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,526 per month in Austin, TX and $1,356 in Apple Valley, MN. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,695 in Austin, TX and $2,491 in Apple Valley, MN. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Apple Valley, MN – 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 Apple Valley, MN. 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.