Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Clinton, IA

For one person, living is cheaper in Clinton, IA: $2,426 a month against $2,689 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX, United States
Clinton, IA, United States
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,689
/mo nomad
Clinton, IA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,426
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Clinton, IA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Clinton, IA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,689 in Austin, TX versus $2,426 in Clinton, IA.

  • Austin, TX $2,689
  • Clinton, IA $2,426

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,112 in Austin, TX versus $3,444 in Clinton, IA.

  • Austin, TX $4,112
  • Clinton, IA $3,444

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,534 in Austin, TX versus $4,462 in Clinton, IA.

  • Austin, TX $5,534
  • Clinton, IA $4,462

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 11% more expensive than in Clinton, IA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 99% above, Clinton, IA 79% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Clinton, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.34 $21.34
$7.15 $7.15
198.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.9 $87.9
$50.3 $50.3
74.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.44 $12.44
$11.77 $11.77
5.69%
Cappuccino
$5.60 $5.60
$5.66 $5.66
-1.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 $3.65
$3.04 $3.04
20.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.03 $2.03
17.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.82 $7.82
$6.66 $6.66
17.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.75 $8.75
$7.28 $7.28
20.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Clinton, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$0.76 $0.76
47.37%
White Bread (500g)
$3.62 $3.62
$2.22 $2.22
63.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.50 $3.50
$2.22 $2.22
57.66%
Eggs
$4.45 $4.45
$1.96 $1.96
127.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.18 $13.18
$13.40 $13.40
-1.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.94 $13.94
$6.79 $6.79
105.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.46 $16.46
$19.92 $19.92
-17.37%
Apples (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$2.25 $2.25
110.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 $1.50
$1.60 $1.60
-6.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.64 $4.64
$3.38 $3.38
37.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$2.26 $2.26
100.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.12 $1.12
127.68%
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.25 $2.25
6.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.02 $2.02
-8.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.26 $2.26
-5.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.05 $10.05
$10.63 $10.63
-5.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.88 $14.88
$15.36 $15.36
-3.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.68 $2.68
5.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 $3.29
$4.35 $4.35
-24.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Clinton, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.88 $1.88
-34.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.43 $41.43
$64.9 $64.9
-36.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$4.06 $4.06
-33.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.99 $1.99
-18.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.20 $35.20
$43.43 $43.43
-18.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.01 $1.01
-2.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K $34.4K
$30.7K $30.7K
12.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$26.1K $26.1K
2.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Clinton, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$252 $252
$252 $252
0.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.8 $59.8
$32.28 $32.28
85.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.7 $69.7
$47.74 $47.74
45.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Clinton, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.4 $60.4
$39.25 $39.25
53.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.14 $18.14
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.75 $13.75
$10.18 $10.18
35.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Clinton, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,458 $1,458
$1,595 $1,595
-8.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.6K $26.6K
$21.4K $21.4K
24.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Clinton, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 $52.6
$61.7 $61.7
-14.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.76 $45.76
$47.50 $47.50
-3.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.5 $85.5
$79.7 $79.7
7.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 $106
$123 $123
-14.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Clinton, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,195 $2,195
$686 $686
220.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,269 $1,269
$1,257 $1,257
0.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,000 $4,000
$2,582 $2,582
54.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,406 $2,406
$2,078 $2,078
15.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,381 $7,381
$2,568 $2,568
187.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,964 $2,964
$2,221 $2,221
33.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Clinton, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,043 $5,043
$5,519 $5,519
-8.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
6
13.67%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: November 2, 2026

Last update for Clinton, IA: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Clinton, IA
$1.3K 1% $12
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$407
Clinton, IA
$322 21% $85
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$382
Clinton, IA
$332 13% $49
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$356
Clinton, IA
$229 35.8% $127
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$130
Clinton, IA
$140 7.7% $10
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$88
Clinton, IA
$60 32.2% $28
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$57
Clinton, IA
$86 51.1% $29

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,195 in Austin, TX and $686 in Clinton, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Clinton, IA 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: $88 in Austin, TX vs $50 in Clinton, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $407 vs $322 per month, with Clinton, IA cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇺🇸 Clinton, IA
🕒 Local time
12:03 12:03 PM
12:03 12:03 PM
Same time as Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
45,884
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Clinton, IA 1,450 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Clinton, IA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Clinton, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Clinton, IA?
Clinton, IA 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 Clinton, IA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Clinton, IA?
On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Austin, TX. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Clinton, IA?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,195 in Austin, TX versus $686 in Clinton, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Clinton, IA?
All in, you’ll spend $2,689 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,426 in Clinton, IA – Clinton, IA is about 10% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Clinton, IA?
A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 36% less than in Clinton, IA. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Clinton, IA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Clinton, IA is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Clinton, IA?
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.

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