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: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,218 in Ashland, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $2,868 in Ashland, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $3,518 in Ashland, OH.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 22% more expensive than in Ashland, OH, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Ashland, OH 66% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$8.01 $8.01

149.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$37.80 $37.80

97.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$8.40 $8.40

17.26%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$3.82 $3.82

51.57%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$1.70 $1.70

61.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.27 $1.27

70.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$4.91 $4.91

21.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$5.02 $5.02

61.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.81 $0.81

35.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.19 $2.19

49.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.88 $2.88

17.01%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$2.68 $2.68

60.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$11.52 $11.52

4.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$8.86 $8.86

19.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$13.50 $13.50

8.07%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$3.49 $3.49

44.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.09 $1.09

44.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.39 $3.39

29.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.80 $3.80

7.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.61 $1.61

72.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.03 $2.03

38.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.24 $2.24

-12.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.50 $1.50

48.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$10.19 $10.19

-14.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$8.19 $8.19

79.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.00 $2.00

17.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.60 $2.60

33.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.95 $2.95

-48.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

$199 $199

-78.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.47 $2.47

74.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.26 $1.26

42.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$17.87 $17.87

97.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.86 $0.86

-6.98%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.2K $27.2K

-5.55%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.2K $25.2K

6.71%

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

$173 $173

$162 $162

7.30%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$34.45 $34.45

69.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$65.1 $65.1

3.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$34.54 $34.54

78.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$8.54 $8.54

73.30%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,463 $1,463

-3.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$14.2K $14.2K

55.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$43.22 $43.22

27.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$40.65 $40.65

14.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$70.3 $70.3

24.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$64.9 $64.9

83.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$635 $635

246.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,127 $1,127

26.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$857 $857

339.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$1,250 $1,250

116.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$1,782 $1,782

311.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,004 $2,004

56.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$3,544 $3,544

43.70%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Ashland, OH: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $635 in Ashland, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 44% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $38.00 in Ashland, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $296 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 22% 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.

Average pay runs 44% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $2,200 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 $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,701 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,218 in Ashland, OH – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,218 in Ashland, OH versus $2,701 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 22% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.