Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Blacksburg, VA

For one person, living is cheaper in Blacksburg, VA: $1,992 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $8,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
Learn more

Austin, TX Living Index
97

Cost of Living Index in Blacksburg, VA
Learn more

Blacksburg, VA Living Index

Jump to prices

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,698

/mo nomad

Blacksburg, VA

🇺🇸 United States

$1,992

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Blacksburg, VA

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 Blacksburg, VA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,698 in Austin, TX versus $1,992 in Blacksburg, VA.

Austin, TX $2,698
Blacksburg, VA $1,992

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,160 in Austin, TX versus $3,107 in Blacksburg, VA.

Austin, TX $4,160
Blacksburg, VA $3,107

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,622 in Austin, TX versus $4,223 in Blacksburg, VA.

Austin, TX $5,622
Blacksburg, VA $4,223

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 35% more expensive than in Blacksburg, VA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 99% above, Blacksburg, VA 47% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.63 $20.63

$16.94 $16.94

21.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$65.8 $65.8

28.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$8.41 $8.41

43.52%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.89 $4.89

12.07%

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

$3.80 $3.80

$2.84 $2.84

33.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.05 $2.05

20.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$5.91 $5.91

36.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.88 $8.88

$6.79 $6.79

30.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$0.94 $0.94

18.09%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.14 $3.14

18.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.01 $3.01

11.96%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.49 $4.49

-3.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.13 $13.13

$14.81 $14.81

-11.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.15 $14.15

$9.89 $9.89

43.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 $16.33

$10.17 $10.17

60.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$5.16 $5.16

-11.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.28 $1.28

14.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$4.33 $4.33

8.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.76 $4.76

-12.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.46 $2.46

4.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.08 $2.08

12.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.04 $2.04

-13.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.32 $1.32

62.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.10 $10.10

$8.84 $8.84

14.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$15.21 $15.21

-0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.22 $2.22

27.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.75 $2.75

25.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.99 $40.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.99 $2.99

-6.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.86 $1.86

-13.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.34 $34.34

$11.97 $11.97

186.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.86 $0.86

9.30%

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

$34.0K $34.0K

$25.2K $25.2K

34.61%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$23.8K $23.8K

12.52%

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

$223 $223

$162 $162

37.54%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$29.57 $29.57

99.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.6 $70.6

$68.0 $68.0

3.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 $57.7

$40.21 $40.21

43.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.53 $16.53

$10.18 $10.18

62.38%

Cinema Ticket

$14.26 $14.26

$15.11 $15.11

-5.63%

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

$1,511 $1,511

$856 $856

76.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$24.1K $24.1K

-13.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 $51.3

$36.85 $36.85

39.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.17 $44.17

$31.91 $31.91

38.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 $87.0

$76.8 $76.8

13.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$83.5 $83.5

24.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,940 $1,940

$1,306 $1,306

48.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 $1,316

$912 $912

44.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$2,114 $2,114

73.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,565 $2,565

$1,828 $1,828

40.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,354 $7,354

$2,110 $2,110

248.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,129 $3,129

$2,101 $2,101

48.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,286 $5,286

$4,117 $4,117

28.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

6.61

2.72%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Last update for Blacksburg, VA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.8%

Blacksburg, VA

$912 45.8% 30.7% $404

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$406 15.1%

Blacksburg, VA

$352 17.7% 13.2% $54

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$352 13.1%

Blacksburg, VA

$259 13% 26.3% $93

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$350 13%

Blacksburg, VA

$282 14.2% 19.4% $68

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$129 4.8%

Blacksburg, VA

$103 5.2% 20.1% $26

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Blacksburg, VA

$70 3.5% 18.3% $16

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$58 2.2%

Blacksburg, VA

$12 * 0.6% 78.8% $46

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,940 in Austin, TX and $1,306 in Blacksburg, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 28% 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 $66.0 in Blacksburg, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $352 per month, with Blacksburg, VA cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇺🇸 Blacksburg, VA

🕒 Local time

22:10 10:10 PM

23:10 11:10 PM

1 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

44,826

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Austin, TX Blacksburg, VA 1,780 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Blacksburg, VA

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 Blacksburg, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Blacksburg, VA wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Blacksburg, VA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 28% 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: $1,940 in Austin, TX versus $1,306 in Blacksburg, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,511 in Austin, TX versus $856 in Blacksburg, VA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Blacksburg, VA – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,992 in Blacksburg, VA versus $2,698 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Blacksburg, VA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Blacksburg, VA 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.

Expats usually find Blacksburg, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.