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: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,183 in Cleveland, TN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,300 in Cleveland, TN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,418 in Cleveland, TN.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 23% more expensive than in Cleveland, TN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Cleveland, TN 59% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$11.33 $11.33

74.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$37.18 $37.18

125.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$9.95 $9.95

23.62%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.11 $5.11

7.24%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.46 $2.46

51.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.65 $1.65

43.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.03 $6.03

28.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$7.47 $7.47

22.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.82 $0.82

37.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.26 $2.26

65.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.73 $2.73

25.64%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$2.46 $2.46

76.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$8.93 $8.93

47.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$5.61 $5.61

156.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$10.43 $10.43

64.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.94 $3.94

13.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.34 $1.34

7.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$3.74 $3.74

24.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.08 $3.08

61.36%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.54 $1.54

94.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.27 $2.27

18.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.13 $2.13

-13.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.92 $1.92

13.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$7.74 $7.74

22.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.23 $14.23

6.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.72 $1.72

68.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.18 $3.18

9.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.98 $1.98

-17.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

$96.4 $96.4

-58.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.13 $2.13

31.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.89 $1.89

-16.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$32.32 $32.32

8.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.87 $0.87

3.45%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

39.61%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

6.84%

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

$222 $222

$169 $169

31.20%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$67.7 $67.7

-13.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$45.75 $45.75

51.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$25.50 $25.50

159.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$10.05 $10.05

37.11%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,548 $1,548

-1.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$8,401 $8,401

152.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$32.82 $32.82

66.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$51.6 $51.6

-14.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$86.1 $86.1

4.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$88.4 $88.4

22.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,556 $1,556

24.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,107 $1,107

13.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,411 $2,411

56.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,137 $2,137

21.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,184 $2,184

238.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,241 $2,241

42.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$3,635 $3,635

39.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

5.82

10.65%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Cleveland, TN: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,556 in Cleveland, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 40% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $37.00 in Cleveland, TN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $280 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 23% 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.

Average pay runs 40% 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,556 in Cleveland, TN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,695 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,183 in Cleveland, TN – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Cleveland, TN runs roughly 138% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,183 in Cleveland, TN versus $2,695 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 23% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.