Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and College Station, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and College Station, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $2,129 in College Station, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $3,182 in College Station, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $4,235 in College Station, TX.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 24% more expensive than in College Station, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, College Station, TX 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$15.24 $15.24

30.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$78.9 $78.9

6.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$10.51 $10.51

16.75%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.53 $5.53

1.81%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$2.74 $2.74

31.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.77 $1.77

34.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.96 $4.96

57.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$7.44 $7.44

22.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.81 $0.81

40.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.18 $3.18

14.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.96 $3.96

-16.41%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$2.92 $2.92

52.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$11.83 $11.83

9.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$9.45 $9.45

55.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$13.26 $13.26

31.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$6.40 $6.40

-27.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.61 $1.61

-9.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$6.39 $6.39

-25.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.91 $3.91

-23.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.86 $2.86

-4.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.85 $1.85

5.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.79 $1.79

22.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$8.55 $8.55

8.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$14.17 $14.17

5.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.69 $1.69

69.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.91 $3.91

-8.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.03 $1.03

60.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

$20.29 $20.29

106.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$9.90 $9.90

-71.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.90 $1.90

-16.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$59.9 $59.9

-42.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.87 $0.87

9.20%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

-0.02%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$25.0K $25.0K

7.19%

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

$229 $229

$176 $176

30.22%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$36.78 $36.78

59.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$52.6 $52.6

31.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$24.84 $24.84

164.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

$17.54 $17.54

-15.91%

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$11.37 $11.37

21.90%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$855 $855

75.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$17.9K $17.9K

16.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$57.3 $57.3

-6.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$37.98 $37.98

16.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$85.1 $85.1

6.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$122 $122

-11.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,172 $1,172

64.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$953 $953

32.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$1,847 $1,847

104.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$1,578 $1,578

64.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$2,105 $2,105

248.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$2,182 $2,182

48.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$4,154 $4,154

21.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.03

6.80%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for College Station, TX: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $1,172 in College Station, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 21% 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 $79.0 in College Station, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $373 per month, with College Station, 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 College Station, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

College Station, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making College Station, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 21% 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: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $1,172 in College Station, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,646 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,129 in College Station, TX – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in College Station, TX runs roughly 107% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,129 in College Station, TX versus $2,646 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in College Station, TX but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes College Station, TX 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 College Station, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.