Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Apple Valley, MN: $2,529 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
122

Cost of Living Index in Apple Valley, MN
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Apple Valley, MN Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Apple Valley, MN

🇺🇸 United States

$2,529

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Apple Valley, MN

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Apple Valley, MN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,663 per month in Austin, TX vs $2,529 in Apple Valley, MN, rent included.

Austin, TX $2,663
Apple Valley, MN $2,529

A couple spends around $4,133 per month in Austin, TX vs $3,697 in Apple Valley, MN, rent included.

Austin, TX $4,133
Apple Valley, MN $3,697

A family of three spends $5,603 per month in Austin, TX vs $4,864 in Apple Valley, MN, rent included.

Austin, TX $5,603
Apple Valley, MN $4,864

Austin, TX costs about 5% more than Apple Valley, MN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Austin, TX and Apple Valley, MN sit above the global median – Austin, TX by 97%, Apple Valley, MN by 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.77 $20.77

$20.26 $20.26

2.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$74.1 $74.1

14.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$11.15 $11.15

10.49%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$6.16 $6.16

-8.60%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.76 $2.76

34.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.34 $2.34

6.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.10 $7.10

13.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 $9.01

$8.13 $8.13

10.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$0.91 $0.91

23.08%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.14 $3.14

19.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.72 $3.72

-12.37%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$3.71 $3.71

12.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

$10.45 $10.45

23.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$12.21 $12.21

15.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$18.87 $18.87

-14.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$5.71 $5.71

-24.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.51 $1.51

-3.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.52 $4.52

-0.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$5.04 $5.04

-13.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.25 $2.25

14.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$3.79 $3.79

-37.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.33 $2.33

-23.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.65 $2.65

-16.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

$10.94 $10.94

-9.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$14.90 $14.90

1.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.75 $1.75

66.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.94 $2.94

17.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.78 $1.78

-16.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$5.01 $5.01

-45.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.74 $1.74

-4.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$23.89 $23.89

47.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.04 $1.04

-8.65%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$35.8K $35.8K

0.64%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

4.23%

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

$229 $229

$165 $165

38.96%

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

$59.4 $59.4

$49.02 $49.02

21.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$58.4 $58.4

19.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

$42.38 $42.38

35.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

$14.23 $14.23

0.35%

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

$1,506 $1,506

$1,371 $1,371

9.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

$36.6K $36.6K

-41.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$57.8 $57.8

-8.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

$44.79 $44.79

-2.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$74.2 $74.2

14.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$83.5 $83.5

23.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$1,491 $1,491

27.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 $1,274

$1,307 $1,307

-2.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$2,476 $2,476

47.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 $2,538

$2,116 $2,116

19.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,614 $7,614

$2,920 $2,920

160.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

$2,246 $2,246

40.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,121 $5,121

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

6.61

2.72%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Apple Valley, MN: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8%

Apple Valley, MN

$1.3K 51.7% 2.6% $33

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$405 15.2%

Apple Valley, MN

$400 15.8% 1.1% $4.6

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$358 13.5%

Apple Valley, MN

$272 10.8% 24% $86

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$354 13.3%

Apple Valley, MN

$342 13.5% 3.5% $12

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

Apple Valley, MN

$117 4.6% 8.5% $11

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Apple Valley, MN

$71 2.8% 17.4% $15

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

Apple Valley, MN

$21 * 0.8% 64.5% $38

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $1,491 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 $85.0 in Austin, TX versus $74.0 in Apple Valley, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $405 vs $400 – making Apple Valley, MN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇺🇸 Apple Valley, MN

🕒 Local time

18:27 6:27 PM

Same time as Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

50,109

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Austin, TX Apple Valley, MN 1,660 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Apple Valley, MN

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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: $2,663 in Austin, TX, $2,529 in Apple Valley, MN – roughly 5% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,995 per month in Austin, TX and $3,794 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 $2,663 in Austin, TX and $2,529 in Apple Valley, MN. That's a gap of about 5%.

Kindergarten costs $1,506 per month in Austin, TX and $1,371 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 $2,663 in Austin, TX and $2,529 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.