Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Clarksville, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Clarksville, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,427 in Clarksville, TN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,194 in Clarksville, TN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $3,962 in Clarksville, TN.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 12% more expensive than in Clarksville, TN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Clarksville, TN 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$14.87 $14.87

32.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$75.6 $75.6

0.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$11.01 $11.01

-10.45%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.39 $5.39

1.67%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.23 $2.23

18.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.71 $1.71

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.86 $5.86

3.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$7.65 $7.65

6.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.08 $1.08

1.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.93 $2.93

15.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$4.88 $4.88

-30.74%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.10 $4.10

7.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$12.34 $12.34

-1.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$13.62 $13.62

-20.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$12.80 $12.80

14.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$6.17 $6.17

-19.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.60 $1.60

-5.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.32 $4.32

1.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.54 $3.54

15.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.20 $3.20

-12.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$4.87 $4.87

-41.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.30 $2.30

-15.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.72 $2.72

-19.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$6.09 $6.09

47.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$12.03 $12.03

25.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.74 $1.74

33.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.60 $3.60

-4.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.48 $1.48

4.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$39.43 $39.43

11.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$1.70 $1.70

159.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.38 $1.38

32.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$28.61 $28.61

21.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.79 $0.79

-1.27%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.5K $25.5K

1.91%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.69%

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

$175 $175

$141 $141

23.75%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$49.30 $49.30

21.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$72.1 $72.1

-9.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$25.98 $25.98

135.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$13.42 $13.42

9.99%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$733 $733

87.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$25.2K $25.2K

-12.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$39.92 $39.92

41.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$31.51 $31.51

43.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$96.7 $96.7

-12.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$121 $121

-1.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,044 $1,044

110.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,291 $1,291

8.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$1,673 $1,673

128.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$1,346 $1,346

99.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$1,992 $1,992

258.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$2,005 $2,005

53.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$3,809 $3,809

34.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Clarksville, TN: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,044 in Clarksville, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 34% 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: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $76.0 in Clarksville, TN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $396 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 Clarksville, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Clarksville, TN wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Clarksville, TN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 34% 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,044 in Clarksville, TN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,427 in Clarksville, TN – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Clarksville, TN runs roughly 12% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,427 in Clarksville, TN versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Clarksville, TN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Clarksville, TN 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 Clarksville, TN 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 Clarksville, TN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.