Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Aurora, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Aurora, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,707 in Austin, TX versus $3,091 in Aurora, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,158 in Austin, TX versus $4,323 in Aurora, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,608 in Austin, TX versus $5,555 in Aurora, CO.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 12% less than in Aurora, CO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 101% above, Aurora, CO 129% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.50 $19.50

$19.66 $19.66

-0.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.3 $75.3

$60.8 $60.8

23.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 $9.88

$12.77 $12.77

-22.63%

Cappuccino

$5.74 $5.74

$4.19 $4.19

36.99%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.43 $2.43

14.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.96 $1.96

8.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$3.93 $3.93

55.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 $7.86

$5.94 $5.94

32.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.92 $0.92

18.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.93 $2.93

17.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.04 $3.04

8.88%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$2.75 $2.75

56.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.98 $11.98

$8.82 $8.82

35.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.74 $10.74

$9.26 $9.26

15.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$17.48 $17.48

-15.39%

Apples (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$3.31 $3.31

51.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.53 $1.53

-2.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$3.13 $3.13

41.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.50 $4.50

-12.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$5.63 $5.63

-51.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$4.03 $4.03

-32.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.00 $2.00

2.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$3.74 $3.74

-39.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.09 $9.09

$9.48 $9.48

-4.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$19.69 $19.69

-23.87%

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

$3.37 $3.37

5.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.93 $2.93

-49.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.05 $44.05

$175 $175

-74.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 $4.47

$3.53 $3.53

26.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.58 $1.58

11.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.44 $34.44

$29.09 $29.09

18.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.79 $0.79

-6.33%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$29.2K $29.2K

-12.29%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

3.06%

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

$172 $172

$173 $173

-0.42%

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

$59.3 $59.3

$63.0 $63.0

-5.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$54.2 $54.2

22.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.1 $63.1

$12.01 $12.01

425.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$15.28 $15.28

$13.17 $13.17

16.02%

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

$1,406 $1,406

$1,319 $1,319

6.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$23.8K $23.8K

-7.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$43.43 $43.43

29.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.72 $45.72

$50.9 $50.9

-10.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$112 $112

-22.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$113 $113

3.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,196 $2,196

$1,961 $1,961

11.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 $1,434

$1,780 $1,780

-19.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,878 $3,878

$3,055 $3,055

26.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,610 $2,610

$2,673 $2,673

-2.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,228 $7,228

$3,155 $3,155

129.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,282 $3,282

$3,169 $3,169

3.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,984 $4,984

$4,101 $4,101

21.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 13, 2026

Last update for Aurora, CO: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,196 in Austin, TX and $1,961 in Aurora, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75 in Austin, TX vs $61 in Aurora, CO. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $380, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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 Aurora, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Aurora, CO. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 22% 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: $2,196 in Austin, TX versus $1,961 in Aurora, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Aurora, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $61.0 in Aurora, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Aurora, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.