Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Ashland, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Ashland, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,270 in Ashland, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $2,895 in Ashland, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $3,520 in Ashland, OH.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 20% more expensive than Ashland, OH, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Ashland, OH 69% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$8.39 $8.39

138.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$38.42 $38.42

98.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$8.28 $8.28

22.34%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$3.63 $3.63

51.24%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$1.70 $1.70

60.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.27 $1.27

68.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.06 $5.06

19.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$4.93 $4.93

63.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.81 $0.81

34.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.23 $2.23

49.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.83 $2.83

20.85%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$2.61 $2.61

65.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$11.44 $11.44

3.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$8.59 $8.59

24.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$13.50 $13.50

7.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$3.63 $3.63

31.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.14 $1.14

31.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.28 $3.28

37.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.64 $3.64

10.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.67 $1.67

65.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.03 $2.03

37.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.13 $2.13

-4.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.48 $1.48

45.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$9.89 $9.89

-6.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$7.79 $7.79

90.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.98 $1.98

15.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.55 $2.55

38.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.94 $2.94

-48.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$197 $197

-77.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.47 $2.47

73.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.32 $1.32

37.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$18.21 $18.21

95.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.82 $0.82

-6.10%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$28.0K $28.0K

-8.63%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.03%

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

$172 $172

$162 $162

6.21%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$33.17 $33.17

81.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$65.1 $65.1

3.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$33.59 $33.59

87.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$8.56 $8.56

72.08%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,480 $1,480

-5.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$14.3K $14.3K

52.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$44.02 $44.02

25.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$39.75 $39.75

14.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$69.2 $69.2

25.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$67.3 $67.3

71.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$635 $635

253.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,134 $1,134

23.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$875 $875

332.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$1,243 $1,243

117.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$1,786 $1,786

308.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$1,908 $1,908

74.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$3,333 $3,333

47.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Ashland, OH: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $635 in Ashland, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 47% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $38 in Ashland, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $292 per month, with Ashland, OH cheaper across the board.

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 Ashland, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ashland, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ashland, OH the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 47% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $635 in Ashland, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Ashland, OH – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,270 in Ashland, OH – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,270 in Ashland, OH versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ashland, OH but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Ashland, OH the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Ashland, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.