Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Buford, GA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Buford, GA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,300 in Buford, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,104 in Austin, TX versus $3,532 in Buford, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,490 in Austin, TX versus $4,764 in Buford, GA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 18% more expensive than Buford, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Buford, GA 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.36 $19.36

$21.69 $21.69

-10.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.7 $73.7

$76.1 $76.1

-3.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

$5.94 $5.94

71.55%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.70 $5.70

0.18%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$1.95 $1.95

35.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.04 $2.04

7.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$5.48 $5.48

7.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$7.02 $7.02

15.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.84 $0.84

29.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.50 $3.50

-3.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.27 $4.27

-21.78%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$3.44 $3.44

29.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.87 $11.87

$7.91 $7.91

50.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$9.19 $9.19

17.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$13.30 $13.30

7.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$4.37 $4.37

10.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.22 $1.22

26.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.72 $3.72

22.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.60 $4.60

-13.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.71 $2.71

5.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.58 $2.58

7.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.35 $2.35

-17.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.21 $2.21

0.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.07 $9.07

$7.62 $7.62

19.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$10.80 $10.80

38.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.81 $1.81

26.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$1.51 $1.51

125.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$3.67 $3.67

-59.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.63 $42.63

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.47 $4.47

-3.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.73 $1.73

2.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.51 $34.51

$42.16 $42.16

-18.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$0.84 $0.84

-10.71%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$34.4K $34.4K

-26.69%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$24.5K $24.5K

8.70%

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

$176 $176

-0.36%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$24.66 $24.66

141.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$85.4 $85.4

-21.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.4 $62.4

$45.12 $45.12

38.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.96 $9.96

$35.44 $35.44

-71.90%

Cinema Ticket

$15.04 $15.04

$12.97 $12.97

15.96%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,097 $1,097

26.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$26.0K $26.0K

-13.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$44.71 $44.71

26.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 $46.71

$49.22 $49.22

-5.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$76.4 $76.4

13.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$95.3 $95.3

25.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,174 $2,174

$1,441 $1,441

50.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 $1,439

$1,131 $1,131

27.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,754 $3,754

$2,396 $2,396

56.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 $2,698

$2,138 $2,138

26.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,033 $7,033

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,113 $3,113

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,081 $5,081

$3,439 $3,439

47.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.4

0.78%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: June 8, 2026

Last update for Buford, GA: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,174 in Austin, TX and $1,441 in Buford, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 48% 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 $76.0 in Buford, GA. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $334, with Buford, GA 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 Buford, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Buford, GA wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Buford, GA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 48% 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: $2,174 in Austin, TX versus $1,441 in Buford, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,097 in Buford, GA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Buford, GA – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

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 Buford, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.