Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Athens, GA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Athens, GA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,707 per month in Austin, TX vs $2,227 in Athens, GA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,158 per month in Austin, TX vs $3,442 in Athens, GA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,608 per month in Austin, TX vs $4,656 in Athens, GA, rent included.

Austin, TX costs about 22% more than Athens, GA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Austin, TX and Athens, GA sit above the global median – Austin, TX by 101%, Athens, GA by 65%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.50 $19.50

$14.45 $14.45

34.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.3 $75.3

$78.5 $78.5

-4.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 $9.88

$10.97 $10.97

-9.94%

Cappuccino

$5.74 $5.74

$5.38 $5.38

6.69%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.47 $2.47

12.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.65 $1.65

29.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$7.20 $7.20

-15.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 $7.86

$7.93 $7.93

-0.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.85 $0.85

28.24%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.02 $3.02

13.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.39 $4.39

-24.60%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$3.02 $3.02

42.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.98 $11.98

$7.52 $7.52

59.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.74 $10.74

$11.89 $11.89

-9.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$13.55 $13.55

9.15%

Apples (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$4.29 $4.29

16.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.32 $1.32

12.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$4.30 $4.30

3.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.61 $4.61

-14.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.65 $2.65

3.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.25 $2.25

-9.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.09 $2.09

8.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.09 $9.09

$7.63 $7.63

19.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$18.79 $18.79

-20.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.71 $1.71

37.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$4.85 $4.85

-27.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$0.91 $0.91

63.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.05 $44.05

$31.41 $31.41

40.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 $4.47

$4.53 $4.53

-1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.87 $1.87

-5.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.44 $34.44

$42.35 $42.35

-18.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.77 $0.77

-3.90%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$29.9K $29.9K

-14.32%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$24.0K $24.0K

11.08%

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

$172 $172

$173 $173

-0.16%

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

$59.3 $59.3

$36.13 $36.13

64.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$64.6 $64.6

2.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.1 $63.1

$24.52 $24.52

157.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$15.28 $15.28

$12.70 $12.70

20.31%

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

$1,406 $1,406

$867 $867

62.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$9,591 $9,591

128.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$57.7 $57.7

-2.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.72 $45.72

$32.72 $32.72

39.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$79.5 $79.5

8.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$54.9 $54.9

114.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,196 $2,196

$1,590 $1,590

38.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 $1,434

$1,052 $1,052

36.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,878 $3,878

$2,745 $2,745

41.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,610 $2,610

$2,164 $2,164

20.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,228 $7,228

$2,384 $2,384

203.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,282 $3,282

$2,279 $2,279

44.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,984 $4,984

$3,554 $3,554

40.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.47

-0.31%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 13, 2026

Last update for Athens, GA: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,196 in Austin, TX versus $1,590 in Athens, GA. 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 40% 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 $75 in Austin, TX versus $79 in Athens, GA. Groceries tell a different story – $379 in Austin, TX vs $364 in Athens, GA – so Athens, GA 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 Athens, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Austin, TX is pricier by about 22%, 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 $4,061 per month in Austin, TX and $3,341 in Athens, GA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Athens, GA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Austin, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Austin, TX and $79.0 in Athens, GA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,707 in Austin, TX and $2,227 in Athens, GA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Athens, GA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Athens, GA. 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.