Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Barnstable, MA

For one person, living is cheaper in Barnstable, MA: $2,408 a month against $2,607 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

125

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
Learn more

Austin, TX Living Index
115

Cost of Living Index in Barnstable, MA
Learn more

Barnstable, MA Living Index

Jump to prices

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,607

/mo nomad

Barnstable, MA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,408

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Barnstable, MA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Barnstable, MA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,607 in Austin, TX versus $2,408 in Barnstable, MA.

Austin, TX $2,607
Barnstable, MA $2,408

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,031 in Austin, TX versus $3,560 in Barnstable, MA.

Austin, TX $4,031
Barnstable, MA $3,560

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,454 in Austin, TX versus $4,711 in Barnstable, MA.

Austin, TX $5,454
Barnstable, MA $4,711

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 8% more expensive than in Barnstable, MA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Barnstable, MA 77% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$18.17 $18.17

12.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.7 $84.7

$75.0 $75.0

12.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.12 $12.12

$9.99 $9.99

21.32%

Cappuccino

$5.65 $5.65

$3.91 $3.91

44.50%

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

$3.68 $3.68

$2.13 $2.13

72.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.66 $1.66

42.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.87 $7.87

$4.92 $4.92

59.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.82 $8.82

$6.73 $6.73

31.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.09 $1.09

4.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.04 $3.04

21.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.23 $4.23

-21.75%

Eggs

$4.15 $4.15

$4.30 $4.30

-3.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 $12.98

$6.76 $6.76

92.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.86 $13.86

$8.77 $8.77

58.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.34 $16.34

$8.88 $8.88

84.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$4.09 $4.09

14.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.72 $1.72

-15.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.43 $4.43

15.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$3.48 $3.48

29.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.14 $2.14

43.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.24 $2.24

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.96 $1.96

-8.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.47 $2.47

-10.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.97 $9.97

$12.45 $12.45

-19.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$13.01 $13.01

15.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.14 $2.14

35.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.91 $3.91

-14.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 $1.22

$2.02 $2.02

-39.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.53 $40.53

$60.0 $60.0

-32.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.55 $3.55

-21.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$3.71 $3.71

-55.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.39 $35.39

$26.34 $26.34

34.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.05 $1.05

-9.52%

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

$34.2K $34.2K

$27.6K $27.6K

23.72%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.2K $24.2K

10.48%

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

$223 $223

$98.8 $98.8

125.71%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$59.9 $59.9

-2.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$65.2 $65.2

9.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.0 $53.0

$40.46 $40.46

31.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.75 $16.75

$23.58 $23.58

-28.97%

Cinema Ticket

$14.06 $14.06

$13.97 $13.97

0.64%

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

$1,459 $1,459

$1,847 $1,847

-21.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.3K $21.3K

$29.5K $29.5K

-27.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.5 $52.5

$57.5 $57.5

-8.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.75 $42.75

$38.96 $38.96

9.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 $86.4

$81.2 $81.2

6.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$99.6 $99.6

4.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,112 $2,112

$1,541 $1,541

37.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,230 $1,230

$1,301 $1,301

-5.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,863 $3,863

$2,510 $2,510

53.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,407 $2,407

$2,138 $2,138

12.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,426 $7,426

$2,845 $2,845

160.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,060 $3,060

$2,339 $2,339

30.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,179 $5,179

$4,639 $4,639

11.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.82

6.64

2.71%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Last update for Barnstable, MA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.2K 47.2%

Barnstable, MA

$1.3K 54% 5.7% $70

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$410 15.7%

Barnstable, MA

$325 13.5% 20.7% $85

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$353 13.5%

Barnstable, MA

$224 9.3% 36.5% $129

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$348 13.4%

Barnstable, MA

$275 11.4% 20.9% $73

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.9%

Barnstable, MA

$125 5.2% 2.9% $3.7

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$81 3.1%

Barnstable, MA

$68 2.8% 15.7% $13

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$56 2.2%

Barnstable, MA

$90 3.8% 59.8% $34

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,112 in Austin, TX and $1,541 in Barnstable, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 12% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $85 in Austin, TX vs $75 in Barnstable, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $410 vs $325 per month, with Barnstable, MA cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇺🇸 Barnstable, MA

🕒 Local time

13:48 1:48 PM

14:48 2:48 PM

1 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

44,000

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Austin, TX Barnstable, MA 2,760 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Barnstable, MA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Barnstable, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barnstable, MA wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Barnstable, MA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 12% 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: $2,112 in Austin, TX versus $1,541 in Barnstable, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you’ll spend $2,607 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,408 in Barnstable, MA – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 32% less than in Barnstable, MA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.

Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Barnstable, MA gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Barnstable, MA wins on affordability, Austin, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.