Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Appleton, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Appleton, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,706 per month in Austin, TX vs $2,200 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,169 per month in Austin, TX vs $3,225 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,633 per month in Austin, TX vs $4,250 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

Austin, TX costs about 23% more than Appleton, WI, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Austin, TX and Appleton, WI sit above the global median – Austin, TX by 103%, Appleton, WI by 65%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$17.89 $17.89

10.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$56.9 $56.9

33.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.17 $10.17

-3.05%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.14 $5.14

6.61%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.55 $2.55

3.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.02 $2.02

3.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.61 $4.61

32.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$5.14 $5.14

58.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.91 $0.91

20.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$4.11 $4.11

-17.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$5.44 $5.44

-37.87%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.63 $4.63

-5.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$14.14 $14.14

-14.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$15.02 $15.02

-27.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$11.33 $11.33

29.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.22 $5.22

-4.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.29 $1.29

17.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.34 $4.34

1.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.59 $4.59

-10.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.44 $2.44

15.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.82 $2.82

1.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.50 $2.50

-22.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.36 $1.36

60.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$14.92 $14.92

-39.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.25 $15.25

-0.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.70 $1.70

37.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.40 $3.40

0.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.45 $2.45

-37.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$35.17 $35.17

25.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.34 $3.34

32.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.42 $1.42

28.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$24.77 $24.77

39.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.81 $0.81

-3.70%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.5K $23.5K

10.28%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$24.9K $24.9K

4.02%

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

$175 $175

$157 $157

10.99%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$45.12 $45.12

32.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$65.3 $65.3

0.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$17.30 $17.30

254.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$13.74 $13.74

7.42%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$2,092 $2,092

-34.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$38.3K $38.3K

-42.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$39.47 $39.47

43.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$25.27 $25.27

79.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$89.1 $89.1

-4.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$105 $105

12.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,508 $1,508

45.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,019 $1,019

37.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$1,789 $1,789

113.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$1,614 $1,614

66.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$2,263 $2,263

215.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$2,321 $2,321

32.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$4,011 $4,011

27.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.52

-1.07%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Appleton, WI: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,508 in Appleton, WI. 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 27% 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 $76.0 in Austin, TX versus $57.0 in Appleton, WI. Groceries tell a different story – $379 in Austin, TX vs $401 in Appleton, WI – so Austin, TX wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Appleton, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Austin, TX is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,059 per month in Austin, TX and $3,300 in Appleton, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Appleton, WI, 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 $2,706 in Austin, TX and $2,200 in Appleton, WI. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 26% less in Appleton, WI. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,706 in Austin, TX and $2,200 in Appleton, WI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Appleton, WI – 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 Appleton, WI. 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.