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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $1,570 in Athens, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $2,979 in Athens, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,388 in Athens, OH.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 69% more expensive than Athens, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Athens, OH 17% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$15.28 $15.28

28.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$60.1 $60.1

24.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$8.01 $8.01

23.85%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.23 $4.23

34.04%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.24 $2.24

23.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.39 $1.39

56.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.07 $5.07

15.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.89 $6.89

12.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.70 $0.70

55.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.08 $2.08

63.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.08 $3.08

11.36%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.28 $3.28

33.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$10.33 $10.33

15.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$8.90 $8.90

20.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$15.24 $15.24

-6.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$3.75 $3.75

29.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$0.90 $0.90

72.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.84 $2.84

57.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.09 $3.09

26.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.69 $1.69

62.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.14 $2.14

28.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.65 $1.65

23.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.46 $1.46

54.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$9.03 $9.03

-1.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$13.25 $13.25

12.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.01 $2.01

16.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$1.85 $1.85

92.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.03 $1.03

42.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.83 $3.83

11.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.23 $1.23

49.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$25.18 $25.18

41.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.82 $0.82

-12.20%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$35.6K $35.6K

-27.65%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.7K $24.7K

5.89%

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

$174 $174

$120 $120

44.75%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$30.53 $30.53

97.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$47.45 $47.45

39.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.57 $43.57

44.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$9.54 $9.54

59.75%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,574 $1,574

-11.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$17.6K $17.6K

25.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$40.28 $40.28

40.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$40.26 $40.26

12.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$65.3 $65.3

32.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$103 $103

16.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,713 $1,713

31.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$655 $655

118.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,619 $2,619

44.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,198 $2,198

20.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$1,698 $1,698

314.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$1,638 $1,638

93.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,478 $3,478

46.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.54

-1.38%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Athens, OH: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,713 in Athens, 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $60.0 in Athens, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $299 per month, with Athens, 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 Athens, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Athens, OH is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,713 in Athens, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Austin, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,570 in Athens, OH – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Athens, OH is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Athens, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.