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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $2,204 in Bloomington, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $3,078 in Bloomington, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $3,952 in Bloomington, IL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 20% more expensive than in Bloomington, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Bloomington, IL 60% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$15.88 $15.88

25.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$45.03 $45.03

86.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$12.07 $12.07

1.66%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$2.53 $2.53

122.53%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$2.03 $2.03

76.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.70 $1.70

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.74 $5.74

36.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$5.11 $5.11

78.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.09 $1.09

4.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$2.39 $2.39

52.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.41 $4.41

-24.94%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$3.65 $3.65

21.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$13.42 $13.42

-3.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$7.81 $7.81

88.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$17.91 $17.91

-2.74%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$3.58 $3.58

28.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.54 $1.54

-5.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$5.44 $5.44

-12.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.52 $3.52

40.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.37 $3.37

-10.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.76 $2.76

-0.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.77 $2.77

-29.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.69 $2.69

-18.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$7.82 $7.82

18.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$14.89 $14.89

0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.05 $2.05

40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.20 $3.20

12.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

$40.76 $40.76

2.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.42 $3.42

-17.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.51 $1.51

5.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$40.05 $40.05

-13.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.90 $0.90

5.56%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$34.8K $34.8K

2.58%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

6.50%

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

$229 $229

$192 $192

19.23%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$69.8 $69.8

-16.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$75.6 $75.6

-8.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$59.3 $59.3

10.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$10.08 $10.08

37.50%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$1,419 $1,419

5.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$23.3K $23.3K

-10.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$60.1 $60.1

-10.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$42.97 $42.97

3.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$84.8 $84.8

7.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$121 $121

-10.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,243 $1,243

55.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$972 $972

30.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$1,769 $1,769

113.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$1,458 $1,458

77.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$1,337 $1,337

448.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$1,326 $1,326

143.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$4,679 $4,679

7.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.09

5.75%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Bloomington, IL: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $1,243 in Bloomington, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 8% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $45.00 in Bloomington, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $372 per month, with Bloomington, IL cheaper across the board.

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 Bloomington, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bloomington, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bloomington, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 8% 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: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $1,243 in Bloomington, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,646 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,204 in Bloomington, IL – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bloomington, IL runs roughly 3% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,204 in Bloomington, IL versus $2,646 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bloomington, IL but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Bloomington, IL 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Bloomington, 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 Bloomington, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.