Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Carlisle, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Carlisle, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $2,531 in Carlisle, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $3,739 in Carlisle, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $4,947 in Carlisle, PA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 5% more expensive than in Carlisle, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Carlisle, PA 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$23.70 $23.70

-16.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$98.5 $98.5

-14.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$11.16 $11.16

9.95%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.84 $5.84

-3.60%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$3.03 $3.03

18.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.42 $2.42

-1.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$8.18 $8.18

-4.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$8.96 $8.96

1.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.21 $1.21

-5.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$4.46 $4.46

-18.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$5.27 $5.27

-37.19%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$5.18 $5.18

-14.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$21.55 $21.55

-39.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$15.67 $15.67

-6.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$23.23 $23.23

-25.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$5.74 $5.74

-19.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.83 $1.83

-20.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$4.61 $4.61

3.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$5.87 $5.87

-15.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.31 $3.31

-9.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.85 $3.85

-28.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.37 $2.37

-17.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.58 $2.58

-14.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$10.35 $10.35

-10.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$16.97 $16.97

-12.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.86 $2.86

0.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.92 $2.92

22.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.85 $1.85

-10.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$4.09 $4.09

-31.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.26 $1.26

26.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$25.35 $25.35

36.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.98 $0.98

-3.06%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$34.7K $34.7K

2.80%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$24.8K $24.8K

8.37%

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

$229 $229

$166 $166

37.63%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$50.9 $50.9

14.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$62.3 $62.3

11.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$41.50 $41.50

58.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$16.61 $16.61

-16.56%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$1,591 $1,591

-5.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$36.2K $36.2K

-42.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$55.4 $55.4

-3.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$63.4 $63.4

-29.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$100 $100

-9.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$162 $162

-33.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,183 $1,183

63.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,070 $1,070

18.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$1,867 $1,867

102.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$1,657 $1,657

56.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$3,000 $3,000

144.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$2,092 $2,092

54.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$5,511 $5,511

-8.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.27

2.71%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Carlisle, PA: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $1,183 in Carlisle, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Carlisle, PA pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $99.0 in Carlisle, PA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $511 per month, with Austin, 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 Carlisle, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Carlisle, PA wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Carlisle, PA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Carlisle, PA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $1,183 in Carlisle, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,501 in Austin, TX versus $1,591 in Carlisle, PA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Carlisle, PA – a meal for two runs $99.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,531 in Carlisle, PA versus $2,646 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Carlisle, PA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Carlisle, PA 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 Carlisle, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.