Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Carbondale, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Carbondale, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,447 in Carbondale, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,523 in Carbondale, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $4,599 in Carbondale, IL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 10% more expensive than in Carbondale, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Carbondale, IL 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$17.03 $17.03

17.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$31.71 $31.71

134.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$8.08 $8.08

21.91%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$3.05 $3.05

89.84%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$1.95 $1.95

41.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.46 $1.46

48.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$4.49 $4.49

33.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$5.48 $5.48

47.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.77 $0.77

42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.87 $2.87

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$4.64 $4.64

-27.37%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.23 $4.23

1.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$11.35 $11.35

5.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$11.05 $11.05

-4.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$15.28 $15.28

-4.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$6.18 $6.18

-18.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.58 $1.58

-0.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.42 $5.42

-19.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.78 $4.78

-14.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$4.98 $4.98

-44.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.48 $3.48

-18.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.31 $2.31

-15.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.37 $2.37

-5.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$7.86 $7.86

11.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$13.67 $13.67

7.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.71 $1.71

36.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$1.91 $1.91

81.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.05 $2.05

-25.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$1.97 $1.97

118.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.39 $1.39

29.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$20.21 $20.21

74.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.76 $0.76

5.26%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$32.8K $32.8K

-21.44%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.6K $26.6K

1.00%

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

$173 $173

$121 $121

42.79%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$58.2 $58.2

0.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$29.42 $29.42

128.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$42.63 $42.63

45.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$12.92 $12.92

14.55%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,582 $1,582

-10.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$26.7K $26.7K

-17.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$40.57 $40.57

35.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$32.40 $32.40

44.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$73.6 $73.6

19.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$141 $141

-15.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,586 $1,586

38.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,352 $1,352

5.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,595 $2,595

45.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,254 $2,254

19.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$861 $861

751.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$837 $837

275.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$3,830 $3,830

32.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.53

-1.23%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Carbondale, IL: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,586 in Carbondale, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 33% 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 $32.00 in Carbondale, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $392, with Austin, TX 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 Carbondale, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Carbondale, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Carbondale, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 33% 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 $1,586 in Carbondale, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $1,582 in Carbondale, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Carbondale, IL – a meal for two runs $32.00 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 $2,000. Carbondale, IL 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 Carbondale, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.