Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Baraboo, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Baraboo, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,379 in Baraboo, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,166 in Baraboo, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $3,952 in Baraboo, WI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 14% more expensive than Baraboo, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Baraboo, WI 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$15.09 $15.09

32.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$40.38 $40.38

88.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$11.46 $11.46

-11.61%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.99 $4.99

10.02%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$1.53 $1.53

77.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.47 $1.47

45.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.10 $5.10

19.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$3.48 $3.48

131.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.82 $0.82

32.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.11 $3.11

7.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.26 $3.26

4.91%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$2.95 $2.95

46.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$7.57 $7.57

55.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.44 $11.44

-6.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$11.19 $11.19

29.58%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.01 $4.01

19.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.26 $1.26

19.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.96 $2.96

52.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.47 $3.47

16.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.22 $1.22

126.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.49 $2.49

12.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.61 $1.61

26.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.17 $2.17

-0.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$11.22 $11.22

-17.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$8.46 $8.46

75.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.74 $1.74

31.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.29 $3.29

7.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.99 $1.99

-23.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.44 $3.44

24.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.56 $1.56

16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$29.67 $29.67

19.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.00 $1.00

-23.00%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$24.5K $24.5K

4.47%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.6K $25.6K

2.77%

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

$172 $172

$174 $174

-0.93%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$52.0 $52.0

16.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$51.0 $51.0

31.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$29.40 $29.40

113.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$10.80 $10.80

36.39%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,324 $1,324

5.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.1K $23.1K

-5.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$45.84 $45.84

20.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$39.28 $39.28

16.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$67.7 $67.7

28.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$110 $110

5.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,296 $1,296

73.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,292 $1,292

8.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$1,784 $1,784

111.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$1,779 $1,779

52.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,174 $2,174

235.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,177 $2,177

53.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.52

-1.07%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Baraboo, WI: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,296 in Baraboo, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $40 in Baraboo, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $308 per month, with Baraboo, WI 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 Baraboo, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

You'd need roughly $4,079 in Austin, TX and $3,568 in Baraboo, WI 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,296 in Baraboo, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,324 in Baraboo, WI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Baraboo, WI – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,379 in Baraboo, WI versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Baraboo, WI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Baraboo, WI the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Baraboo, WI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

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