Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Astoria, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,663 a month against $3,298 in Astoria, NY, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Astoria, NY outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Astoria, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$3,298
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Astoria, NY

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 Astoria, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $3,298 in Astoria, NY.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Astoria, NY $3,298

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $4,650 in Astoria, NY.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Astoria, NY $4,650

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $6,002 in Astoria, NY.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Astoria, NY $6,002

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 19% less than in Astoria, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 97% above, Astoria, NY 144% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Astoria, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$19.30 $19.30
7.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$80.7 $80.7
4.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$10.12 $10.12
21.74%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$4.56 $4.56
23.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.69 $1.69
120.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.88 $1.88
32.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$5.09 $5.09
58.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$8.03 $8.03
12.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Astoria, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.13 $1.13
-0.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$3.82 $3.82
-1.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.67 $3.67
-11.17%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$3.52 $3.52
18.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$16.75 $16.75
-22.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$9.07 $9.07
56.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$13.37 $13.37
21.32%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$4.10 $4.10
5.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.88 $1.88
-22.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.59 $2.59
74.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$3.97 $3.97
9.32%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.47 $2.47
4.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.44 $2.44
-3.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.04 $2.04
-12.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.49 $2.49
-10.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$15.17 $15.17
-34.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$20.30 $20.30
-25.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.71 $1.71
70.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$3.41 $3.41
1.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Astoria, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$3.07 $3.07
-51.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$139 $139
-70.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.94 $2.94
-7.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.13 $2.13
-22.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$41.52 $41.52
-14.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.93 $0.93
2.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$35.2K $35.2K
2.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$25.2K $25.2K
7.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Astoria, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$113 $113
102.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$57.4 $57.4
3.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$50.7 $50.7
37.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Astoria, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$45.62 $45.62
25.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$20.18 $20.18
-29.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Astoria, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$2,578 $2,578
-41.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$34.8K $34.8K
-38.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Astoria, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$25.10 $25.10
110.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$20.11 $20.11
117.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$29.80 $29.80
184.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$50.9 $50.9
102.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Astoria, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$2,347 $2,347
-18.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$2,091 $2,091
-39.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$3,812 $3,812
-3.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$3,225 $3,225
-21.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Astoria, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
6.45
5.27%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Astoria, NY: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Astoria, NY
$2.1K 64.1% $817
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Astoria, NY
$382 5.5% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Astoria, NY
$221 38.2% $137
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Astoria, NY
$295 16.6% $59
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Astoria, NY
$57 55.7% $71
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Astoria, NY
$86 0.2% $0.2
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Astoria, NY
$165 182% $107

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $2,347 in Astoria, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $81.0 in Astoria, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $382 per month, with Astoria, NY cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇺🇸 Astoria, NY
🕒 Local time
07:43 7:43 AM
08:43 8:43 AM
1 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
150,165
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Astoria, NY 2,440 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Astoria, NY

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 Astoria, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Austin, TX and in Astoria, NY?
Austin, TX and Astoria, NY differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($2,663 vs $3,298 including rent). Austin, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Austin, TX compared to Astoria, NY?
You'd need roughly $3,995 in Austin, TX and $4,947 in Astoria, NY 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Austin, TX and in Astoria, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $2,347 in Astoria, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Austin, TX or Astoria, NY?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $3,298 in Astoria, NY – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Austin, TX and in Astoria, NY?
A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 234% less than in Astoria, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Austin, TX and Astoria, NY?
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.
Is Austin, TX or Astoria, NY safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Astoria, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Austin, TX or Astoria, NY?
Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Astoria, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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