Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Burnsville, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Burnsville, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,541 in Burnsville, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,715 in Burnsville, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $4,890 in Burnsville, MN.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 6% more expensive than in Burnsville, MN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Burnsville, MN 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$17.96 $17.96

11.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$66.1 $66.1

12.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$10.17 $10.17

-3.15%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.24 $5.24

10.50%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.71 $2.71

1.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.44 $2.44

-11.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.96 $5.96

0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$6.84 $6.84

18.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.97 $0.97

13.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$4.08 $4.08

-19.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.80 $3.80

-11.32%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$3.17 $3.17

35.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$9.30 $9.30

29.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$11.48 $11.48

-7.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$14.41 $14.41

1.25%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.36 $4.36

15.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.21 $1.21

29.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.51 $4.51

-2.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.35 $4.35

-6.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.88 $3.88

-28.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.60 $3.60

-21.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.93 $1.93

15.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$9.89 $9.89

-11.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$8.12 $8.12

81.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.68 $1.68

39.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.56 $4.56

-23.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.98 $1.98

-23.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$4.85 $4.85

-11.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.44 $1.44

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$28.83 $28.83

22.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.0K $30.0K

-14.27%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.3K $25.3K

6.32%

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

$173 $173

$219 $219

-20.71%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$49.20 $49.20

18.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$74.5 $74.5

-9.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$43.28 $43.28

42.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$8.11 $8.11

82.49%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,429 $1,429

-1.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$30.4K $30.4K

-27.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$39.68 $39.68

38.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$42.15 $42.15

10.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$85.8 $85.8

2.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$126 $126

-5.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,618 $1,618

35.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,328 $1,328

7.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,611 $2,611

44.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,240 $2,240

20.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$2,673 $2,673

174.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,282 $2,282

37.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$3,865 $3,865

31.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.43

0.31%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Burnsville, MN: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,618 in Burnsville, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 32% 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 $66.0 in Burnsville, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $359 per month, with Burnsville, MN 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 Burnsville, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Burnsville, MN wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Burnsville, MN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 32% 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,618 in Burnsville, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $1,429 in Burnsville, MN. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Burnsville, MN – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,541 in Burnsville, MN versus $2,701 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Burnsville, MN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Burnsville, MN 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 Burnsville, MN 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 Burnsville, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.