Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Beckley, WV

For one person, living is cheaper in Beckley, WV: $2,092 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $7,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,698
/mo nomad
Beckley, WV
🇺🇸 United States
$2,092
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Beckley, WV

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 Beckley, WV actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,698 in Austin, TX versus $2,092 in Beckley, WV.

  • Austin, TX $2,698
  • Beckley, WV $2,092

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,160 in Austin, TX versus $3,156 in Beckley, WV.

  • Austin, TX $4,160
  • Beckley, WV $3,156

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,622 in Austin, TX versus $4,220 in Beckley, WV.

  • Austin, TX $5,622
  • Beckley, WV $4,220

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 29% more expensive than in Beckley, WV, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 99% above, Beckley, WV 54% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Beckley, WV
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.63 $20.63
$19.69 $19.69
4.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$75.9 $75.9
11.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.07 $12.07
$11.85 $11.85
1.86%
Cappuccino
$5.48 $5.48
$5.42 $5.42
1.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 $3.80
$2.64 $2.64
43.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.61 $1.61
53.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$6.06 $6.06
32.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.88 $8.88
$5.17 $5.17
71.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Beckley, WV
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.07 $1.07
3.74%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.55 $3.55
4.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$4.42 $4.42
-23.76%
Eggs
$4.32 $4.32
$4.20 $4.20
2.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.13 $13.13
$13.03 $13.03
0.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.15 $14.15
$11.43 $11.43
23.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.33 $16.33
$16.84 $16.84
-3.03%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$4.91 $4.91
-7.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.64 $1.64
-10.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$4.18 $4.18
12.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.59 $4.59
-9.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.75 $2.75
-6.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$3.05 $3.05
-22.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.09 $2.09
-15.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.29 $2.29
-6.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.10 $10.10
$9.48 $9.48
6.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.19 $15.19
$14.89 $14.89
2.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.96 $1.96
43.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.33 $3.33
3.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Beckley, WV
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.95 $1.95
-21.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.99 $40.99
$65.7 $65.7
-37.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.80 $2.80
$2.96 $2.96
-5.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 $1.60
$1.85 $1.85
-13.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.34 $34.34
$32.58 $32.58
5.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.07 $1.07
-12.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K $34.0K
$28.9K $28.9K
17.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$24.8K $24.8K
7.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Beckley, WV
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 $223
$202 $202
10.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$58.5 $58.5
0.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6 $70.6
$69.5 $69.5
1.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Beckley, WV
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 $57.7
$41.62 $41.62
38.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.53 $16.53
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.26 $14.26
$13.96 $13.96
2.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Beckley, WV
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,511 $1,511
$1,335 $1,335
13.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K $20.9K
$21.8K $21.8K
-4.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Beckley, WV
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
$53.0 $53.0
-3.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.17 $44.17
$41.69 $41.69
5.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.0 $87.0
$88.8 $88.8
-1.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$114 $114
-8.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Beckley, WV
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,940 $1,940
$1,044 $1,044
85.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 $1,316
$759 $759
73.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,547 $1,547
136.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,565 $2,565
$1,290 $1,290
98.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,354 $7,354
$1,280 $1,280
474.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,129 $3,129
$1,263 $1,263
147.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Beckley, WV
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,286 $5,286
$4,586 $4,586
15.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
6.57
3.35%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Last update for Beckley, WV: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Beckley, WV
$759 42.3% $557
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$406
Beckley, WV
$398 2% $8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$352
Beckley, WV
$330 6.3% $22
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$350
Beckley, WV
$316 9.8% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Beckley, WV
$134 3.9% $5
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Beckley, WV
$70 19.4% $17
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$58
Beckley, WV
$86 48.1% $28

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,940 in Austin, TX and $1,044 in Beckley, WV. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 15% 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $76.0 in Beckley, WV for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $398 per month, with Beckley, WV cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇺🇸 Beckley, WV
🕒 Local time
08:57 8:57 AM
09:57 9:57 AM
1 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
16,828
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Beckley, WV 1,740 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Beckley, WV

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 Beckley, WV: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Beckley, WV?
Beckley, WV wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Beckley, WV the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Beckley, WV?
Average pay runs 15% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Beckley, WV?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,940 in Austin, TX versus $1,044 in Beckley, WV. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Beckley, WV?
All in, you'll spend $2,698 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,092 in Beckley, WV – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Beckley, WV?
A monthly transit pass in Beckley, WV runs roughly 60% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Beckley, WV?
At $2,092 in Beckley, WV versus $2,698 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beckley, WV but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Beckley, WV the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Beckley, WV?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Beckley, WV gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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