Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Brownwood, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Brownwood, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $1,687 in Brownwood, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $2,583 in Brownwood, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $3,478 in Brownwood, TX.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 60% more expensive than in Brownwood, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Brownwood, TX 23% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$13.64 $13.64

45.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$65.2 $65.2

28.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$10.91 $10.91

12.74%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.14 $5.14

6.61%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.38 $2.38

56.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.54 $1.54

53.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.37 $5.37

44.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.10 $6.10

49.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.71 $0.71

59.15%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$1.44 $1.44

160.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.00 $2.00

71.50%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$2.07 $2.07

110.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$8.19 $8.19

60.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$8.81 $8.81

63.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$13.21 $13.21

30.20%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$2.93 $2.93

53.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.30 $1.30

10.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.67 $2.67

74.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.19 $2.19

126.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.19 $2.19

36.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.06 $2.06

30.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.79 $1.79

3.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.30 $2.30

-5.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$9.36 $9.36

0.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.88 $14.88

1.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.69 $2.69

7.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.80 $1.80

-8.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.51 $3.51

-19.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.78 $1.78

-11.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$25.44 $25.44

38.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.79 $0.79

13.92%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$32.1K $32.1K

11.89%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$21.9K $21.9K

26.49%

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

$222 $222

$101 $101

119.36%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$49.57 $49.57

17.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$40.16 $40.16

72.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$41.37 $41.37

59.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$11.24 $11.24

22.60%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,317 $1,317

15.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$19.0K $19.0K

11.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$52.0 $52.0

4.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$49.08 $49.08

-10.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$103 $103

-12.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$97.2 $97.2

11.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,566 $1,566

24.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$745 $745

68.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,545 $2,545

47.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,311 $1,311

97.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,524 $2,524

193.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,380 $2,380

34.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.08

5.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Brownwood, TX: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,566 in Brownwood, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $65.0 in Brownwood, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $286 per month, with Brownwood, TX 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 Brownwood, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brownwood, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 60% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Brownwood, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,042 in Austin, TX and $2,531 in Brownwood, TX to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,566 in Brownwood, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,317 in Brownwood, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Brownwood, TX – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,687 in Brownwood, TX versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Brownwood, TX but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Brownwood, TX 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 Brownwood, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.