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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,732 in Austin, TX versus $2,407 in Ashland, OR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,139 in Austin, TX versus $3,590 in Ashland, OR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,545 in Austin, TX versus $4,773 in Ashland, OR.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 14% more expensive than in Ashland, OR, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 105% above, Ashland, OR 81% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Ashland, OR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.47 $19.47
$14.92 $14.92
30.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.4 $75.4
$70.8 $70.8
6.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 $9.89
$9.89 $9.89
-
Cappuccino
$5.49 $5.49
$4.92 $4.92
11.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.03 $2.03
32.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.99 $1.99
7.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.91 $5.91
$5.92 $5.92
-0.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.87 $7.87
$8.14 $8.14
-3.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Ashland, OR
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$0.90 $0.90
27.78%
White Bread (500g)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.91 $3.91
-14.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.48 $3.48
$3.78 $3.78
-7.94%
Eggs
$4.42 $4.42
$1.72 $1.72
156.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.79 $11.79
$11.95 $11.95
-1.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.65 $10.65
$14.56 $14.56
-26.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.80 $14.80
$14.09 $14.09
5.04%
Apples (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$4.22 $4.22
13.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.49 $1.49
5.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$3.26 $3.26
34.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.01 $4.01
$3.65 $3.65
9.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.14 $2.14
26.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.84 $2.84
$1.61 $1.61
76.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.01 $2.01
1.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$1.65 $1.65
36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.78 $8.78
$10.05 $10.05
-12.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.03 $15.03
$8.82 $8.82
70.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.71 $1.71
33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 $3.47
$2.33 $2.33
48.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Ashland, OR
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.94 $1.94
-21.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.99 $43.99
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.30 $4.30
$3.90 $3.90
10.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.26 $1.26
44.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.23 $35.23
$29.72 $29.72
18.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$1.06 $1.06
-31.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$33.0K $33.0K
-21.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
1.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Ashland, OR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$124 $124
38.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.4 $58.4
$52.5 $52.5
11.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.1 $66.1
$59.0 $59.0
12.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Ashland, OR
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.6 $63.6
$42.49 $42.49
49.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.15 $10.15
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.05 $15.05
$13.74 $13.74
9.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Ashland, OR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,399 $1,399
$1,502 $1,502
-6.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.0K $22.0K
$12.5K $12.5K
76.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Ashland, OR
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.6 $56.6
$58.0 $58.0
-2.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.66 $46.66
$40.90 $40.90
14.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.4 $86.4
$106 $106
-18.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$105 $105
13.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Ashland, OR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,228 $2,228
$1,590 $1,590
40.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,399 $1,399
$1,339 $1,339
4.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,821 $3,821
$2,602 $2,602
46.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,648 $2,648
$2,262 $2,262
17.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,237 $7,237
$2,764 $2,764
161.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,127 $3,127
$2,380 $2,380
31.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Ashland, OR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,009 $5,009
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.53
-1.23%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ashland, OR: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,228 in Austin, TX and $1,590 in Ashland, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $71.0 in Ashland, OR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $378 vs $351 per month, with Ashland, OR 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, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ashland, OR cheaper than Austin, TX?
Ashland, OR is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,099 in Austin, TX and $3,611 in Ashland, OR to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Austin, TX and Ashland, OR?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,228 in Austin, TX versus $1,590 in Ashland, OR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,399 in Austin, TX versus $1,502 in Ashland, OR. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Austin, TX or in Ashland, OR?
Dining out is cheaper in Ashland, OR – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Austin, TX or in Ashland, OR?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Ashland, OR is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Austin, TX or in Ashland, OR?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ashland, OR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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