Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Cambridge, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Cambridge, MA

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 1.5% cheaper than Cambridge, MA without rent, and 36.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Austin, TX is 21.4% cheaper than Cambridge, MA without rent, and 22.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Austin, TX
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.64 $19.64
$16.93 $16.93
16.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2 $76.2
$102 $102
-25.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$11.83 $11.83
-15.89%
Cappuccino
$5.61 $5.61
$5.57 $5.57
0.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.03 $3.03
-12.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.42 $2.42
-9.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$7.89 $7.89
-25.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$8.06 $8.06
-1.74%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.14 $1.14
-0.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.3 $3.3
$4.02 $4.02
-17.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$6.52 $6.52
-46.32%
Eggs
$4.4 $4.4
$4.79 $4.79
-8.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12 $12
$15.17 $15.17
-20.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.68 $10.68
$13.38 $13.38
-20.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 $14.73
$20.7 $20.7
-28.84%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$6.79 $6.79
-28.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.94 $1.94
-21.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$6.3 $6.3
-28.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$6.32 $6.32
-37.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.25 $3.25
-16.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$3.52 $3.52
-21.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.36 $2.36
-14.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.6 $2.6
-16.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.86 $8.86
$13.74 $13.74
-35.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.96 $14.96
$14.93 $14.93
0.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.68 $1.68
39.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$5.72 $5.72
-39.86%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Austin, TX
Cambridge, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.4 $2.4
-38.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.82 $42.82
$89.4 $89.4
-52.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.3 $4.3
$2.57 $2.57
67.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.73 $1.73
5.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.63 $34.63
$28.31 $28.31
22.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$0.9 $0.9
-18.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$29.6K $29.6K
-13.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$24.9K $24.9K
5.76%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 $177
$160 $160
10.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$52.7 $52.7
11.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.8 $64.8
$55.3 $55.3
17.27%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.6 $62.6
$101 $101
-38.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17 $10.17
$30.36 $30.36
-66.50%
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$15.32 $15.32
-3.92%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,378 $1,378
$2,793 $2,793
-50.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$27.7K $27.7K
-19.12%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 $56.3
$67.2 $67.2
-16.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46 $46.46
$44.67 $44.67
4.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 $86.7
$102 $102
-14.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$148 $148
-19.88%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Cambridge, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 $2,188
$2,818 $2,818
-22.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 $1,395
$2,865 $2,865
-51.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,896 $3,896
$5,085 $5,085
-23.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$3,510 $3,510
-23.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,414 $4,414
$4,887 $4,887
-9.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,161 $3,161
$4,940 $4,940
-36.00%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,871 $4,871
$6,088 $6,088
-20.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.43
0.31%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Cambridge, MA: October 28, 2025

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