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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,316 in Cleveland, TN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,475 in Cleveland, TN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,633 in Cleveland, TN.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 15% more expensive than Cleveland, TN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Cleveland, TN 73% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$15.10 $15.10

30.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$39.24 $39.24

91.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.17 $10.17

-2.46%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.87 $4.87

16.43%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.03 $2.03

36.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.63 $1.63

33.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.89 $5.89

-0.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$7.15 $7.15

8.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.90 $0.90

21.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.32 $2.32

46.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.76 $2.76

24.28%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$2.52 $2.52

74.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$9.94 $9.94

20.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$7.81 $7.81

37.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$11.75 $11.75

21.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.90 $4.90

-1.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.66 $1.66

-6.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.51 $3.51

27.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.87 $3.87

1.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.04 $3.04

-9.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.04 $2.04

34.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.19 $2.19

-6.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.54 $1.54

46.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$5.65 $5.65

58.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$13.80 $13.80

7.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.65 $1.65

42.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.69 $4.69

-23.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.05 $2.05

-28.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$4.88 $4.88

-12.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.52 $1.52

21.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$17.93 $17.93

98.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.74 $0.74

-2.70%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.4K $26.4K

-2.59%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.7K $26.7K

-1.91%

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

$174 $174

$181 $181

-3.89%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$49.57 $49.57

21.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$66.0 $66.0

0.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.62 $42.62

47.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$9.03 $9.03

68.77%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$993 $993

39.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$8,421 $8,421

163.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$42.50 $42.50

33.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$36.44 $36.44

24.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$81.2 $81.2

6.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$92.5 $92.5

28.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,637 $1,637

37.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,221 $1,221

17.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,735 $2,735

38.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,426 $2,426

8.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,226 $2,226

216.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,207 $2,207

43.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,765 $3,765

35.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

7.50%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cleveland, TN: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,637 in Cleveland, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 36% 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $39.00 in Cleveland, TN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $311 per month, with Cleveland, TN 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 Cleveland, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cleveland, TN wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cleveland, TN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 36% more on average, 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,637 in Cleveland, TN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $993 in Cleveland, TN. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Cleveland, TN – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,316 in Cleveland, TN versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Cleveland, TN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, TN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.