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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,707 in Austin, TX versus $2,346 in Bloomington, IN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,158 in Austin, TX versus $3,189 in Bloomington, IN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,608 in Austin, TX versus $4,032 in Bloomington, IN.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 15% more expensive than Bloomington, IN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 101% above, Bloomington, IN 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.50 $19.50

$15.14 $15.14

28.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.3 $75.3

$59.4 $59.4

26.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 $9.88

$7.81 $7.81

26.50%

Cappuccino

$5.74 $5.74

$4.29 $4.29

33.80%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.15 $2.15

29.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.35 $1.35

57.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$4.91 $4.91

24.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 $7.86

$5.34 $5.34

47.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.76 $0.76

43.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.26 $2.26

52.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.93 $3.93

-15.78%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$3.31 $3.31

29.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.98 $11.98

$10.49 $10.49

14.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.74 $10.74

$9.53 $9.53

12.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$15.34 $15.34

-3.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$4.30 $4.30

16.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.31 $1.31

13.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$2.24 $2.24

97.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.08 $4.08

-3.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.03 $2.03

35.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.05 $3.05

-10.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.74 $1.74

17.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.40 $1.40

61.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.09 $9.09

$8.30 $8.30

9.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$11.33 $11.33

32.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.88 $1.88

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.81 $1.81

95.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$0.98 $0.98

52.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.05 $44.05

$30.18 $30.18

45.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 $4.47

$3.78 $3.78

18.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.04 $1.04

69.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.44 $34.44

$17.74 $17.74

94.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.80 $0.80

-7.50%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$29.4K $29.4K

-12.76%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.4K $25.4K

5.07%

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

$172 $172

$121 $121

42.42%

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

$59.3 $59.3

$56.5 $56.5

5.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$57.2 $57.2

16.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.1 $63.1

$39.41 $39.41

60.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

$10.15 $10.15

0.20%

Cinema Ticket

$15.28 $15.28

$11.84 $11.84

29.05%

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

$1,406 $1,406

$1,535 $1,535

-8.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$17.1K $17.1K

28.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$40.50 $40.50

39.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.72 $45.72

$40.72 $40.72

12.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$90.3 $90.3

-4.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$103 $103

13.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,196 $2,196

$1,581 $1,581

38.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 $1,434

$1,321 $1,321

8.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,878 $3,878

$2,229 $2,229

73.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,610 $2,610

$1,740 $1,740

49.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,228 $7,228

$2,180 $2,180

231.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,282 $3,282

$2,134 $2,134

53.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,984 $4,984

$3,636 $3,636

37.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.54

-1.38%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 13, 2026

Last update for Bloomington, IN: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,196 in Austin, TX and $1,581 in Bloomington, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 37% 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: $75 in Austin, TX vs $59 in Bloomington, IN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $315 per month, with Bloomington, IN 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, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bloomington, IN wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bloomington, IN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 37% 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: $2,196 in Austin, TX versus $1,581 in Bloomington, IN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,707 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,346 in Bloomington, IN – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bloomington, IN runs roughly 46% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,346 in Bloomington, IN versus $2,707 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Bloomington, IN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Bloomington, IN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Bloomington, IN delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,346 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bloomington, IN hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Bloomington, IN 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, IN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.