Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Bethlehem, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Bethlehem, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,746 in Austin, TX versus $2,711 in Bethlehem, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,137 in Austin, TX versus $3,826 in Bethlehem, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,527 in Austin, TX versus $4,941 in Bethlehem, PA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than Bethlehem, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$17.98 $17.98

8.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 $74.3

$50.7 $50.7

46.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$12.92 $12.92

-23.22%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.93 $4.93

13.79%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.08 $3.08

-14.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.91 $1.91

9.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$5.30 $5.30

11.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$8.22 $8.22

-3.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.09 $1.09

0.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.95 $3.95

-13.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$4.32 $4.32

-22.92%

Eggs

$4.36 $4.36

$4.05 $4.05

7.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.20 $12.20

$11.87 $11.87

2.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.50 $10.50

$17.19 $17.19

-38.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$21.62 $21.62

-32.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$11.40 $11.40

-58.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.30 $1.30

16.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$4.44 $4.44

3.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$7.39 $7.39

-45.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$5.62 $5.62

-50.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.78 $2.78

1.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.69 $2.69

-27.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.84 $1.84

21.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.08 $9.08

$10.20 $10.20

-10.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$15.60 $15.60

-4.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$4.30 $4.30

-46.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$5.07 $5.07

-32.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.02 $2.02

-23.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.27 $44.27

$59.7 $59.7

-25.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 $4.27

$3.58 $3.58

19.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.59 $1.59

14.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.71 $34.71

$29.13 $29.13

19.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$0.94 $0.94

-15.96%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$29.7K $29.7K

-12.47%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

0.95%

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

$174 $174

$224 $224

-22.29%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$63.1 $63.1

-7.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$61.7 $61.7

8.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 $61.5

$37.04 $37.04

66.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.97 $9.97

Cinema Ticket

$15.29 $15.29

$15.23 $15.23

0.39%

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

$1,379 $1,379

$991 $991

39.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.9K $21.9K

$23.4K $23.4K

-6.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$55.4 $55.4

2.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.38 $46.38

$30.09 $30.09

54.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 $87.1

$66.6 $66.6

30.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$78.5 $78.5

48.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,212 $2,212

$1,515 $1,515

46.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,441 $1,441

$1,288 $1,288

11.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,788 $3,788

$2,116 $2,116

79.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$1,974 $1,974

32.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,183 $7,183

$2,133 $2,133

236.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,138 $3,138

$2,142 $2,142

46.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,995 $4,995

$3,512 $3,512

42.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.62

-2.57%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: June 13, 2026

Last update for Bethlehem, PA: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,212 in Austin, TX and $1,515 in Bethlehem, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 42% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $51.0 in Bethlehem, PA. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $508, 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 Bethlehem, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bethlehem, PA wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bethlehem, PA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 42% more on average, 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: $2,212 in Austin, TX versus $1,515 in Bethlehem, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,746 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,711 in Bethlehem, PA – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bethlehem, PA runs roughly 35% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Bethlehem, PA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Bethlehem, PA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,711 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bethlehem, PA hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Bethlehem, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.