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: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $3,196 in Aurora, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $4,465 in Aurora, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $5,734 in Aurora, CO.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 16% less than in Aurora, CO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Aurora, CO 133% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$30.30 $30.30

-34.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$68.5 $68.5

22.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$13.24 $13.24

-7.10%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.87 $5.87

-6.64%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.68 $2.68

38.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.10 $2.10

12.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$4.85 $4.85

60.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.15 $6.15

48.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.33 $1.33

-15.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.07 $3.07

22.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.93 $2.93

17.06%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.43 $4.43

-1.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$12.34 $12.34

6.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$9.43 $9.43

52.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$14.41 $14.41

19.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.57 $4.57

-1.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.52 $1.52

-5.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.96 $2.96

57.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.34 $4.34

14.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$5.49 $5.49

-45.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.93 $3.93

-31.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.02 $2.02

-8.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$3.74 $3.74

-41.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$9.27 $9.27

1.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.78 $1.78

62.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.95 $2.95

-44.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

$177 $177

-77.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.03 $1.03

-12.62%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$35.3K $35.3K

1.63%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$26.3K $26.3K

5.18%

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

$222 $222

$162 $162

37.21%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$82.6 $82.6

-29.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$50.9 $50.9

35.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$24.24 $24.24

172.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$10.06 $10.06

46.72%

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$18.73 $18.73

-26.43%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,134 $1,134

34.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$30.3K $30.3K

-30.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$56.1 $56.1

-2.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$50.6 $50.6

-13.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$103 $103

-12.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$114 $114

-4.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,919 $1,919

1.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,746 $1,746

-27.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$3,212 $3,212

17.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,654 $2,654

-2.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$3,233 $3,233

129.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$3,235 $3,235

-0.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$3,952 $3,952

28.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.12

5.23%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Aurora, CO: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,919 in Aurora, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $69.0 in Aurora, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $353 per month, with Aurora, CO 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 Aurora, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 19% 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.

Average pay runs 29% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,919 in Aurora, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Aurora, CO pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $84.0 versus $69.0 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 19% less than in Aurora, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.