Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Barrington, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Barrington, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,765 in Barrington, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $4,079 in Barrington, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $5,392 in Barrington, IL.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 2% less than in Barrington, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Barrington, IL 106% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$18.95 $18.95

5.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$74.3 $74.3

2.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.95 $10.95

-7.49%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.96 $4.96

10.69%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.60 $2.60

4.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.96 $1.96

9.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$7.05 $7.05

14.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.17 $1.17

-6.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.83 $3.83

-12.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.44 $4.44

-22.97%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.15 $4.15

4.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$15.39 $15.39

-23.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.14 $11.14

-4.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$15.55 $15.55

-6.75%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.80 $5.80

-17.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.98 $1.98

-24.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.17 $4.17

8.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$6.81 $6.81

-40.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.79 $2.79

-1.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.14 $2.14

30.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.02 $2.02

0.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.19 $2.19

-1.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$9.67 $9.67

-4.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$16.97 $16.97

-12.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.85 $1.85

23.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.46 $3.46

2.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.96 $1.96

-22.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$116 $116

-62.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.42 $3.42

25.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.66 $1.66

9.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$29.71 $29.71

19.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.01 $1.01

-23.76%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$30.0K $30.0K

-14.45%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.8K $25.8K

2.02%

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

$172 $172

$231 $231

-25.61%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$48.46 $48.46

24.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$60.8 $60.8

10.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$65.5 $65.5

-3.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

$15.04 $15.04

-34.51%

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$14.23 $14.23

3.51%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,440 $1,440

-2.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$27.5K $27.5K

-20.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$50.6 $50.6

9.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$39.40 $39.40

15.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$85.3 $85.3

1.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$110 $110

4.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,583 $1,583

41.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,361 $1,361

2.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,609 $2,609

44.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,251 $2,251

20.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,336 $2,336

212.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,270 $2,270

46.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$5,724 $5,724

-14.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Barrington, IL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,583 in Barrington, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barrington, IL pays 17% 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: $76 in Austin, TX vs $74 in Barrington, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $375 vs $422, 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 Barrington, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Barrington, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Barrington, IL earns 17% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,583 in Barrington, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,765 in Barrington, IL – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 166% less than in Barrington, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Barrington, IL 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Barrington, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.