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: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,081 in College Station, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,104 in Austin, TX versus $3,257 in College Station, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,490 in Austin, TX versus $4,433 in College Station, TX.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 31% more expensive than College Station, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, College Station, TX 55% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.36 $19.36

$12.92 $12.92

49.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.7 $73.7

$64.3 $64.3

14.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

$8.60 $8.60

18.49%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.63 $4.63

23.33%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.84 $2.84

-6.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.58 $1.58

38.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$4.53 $4.53

30.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.15 $6.15

31.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.95 $0.95

14.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.05 $3.05

10.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.28 $4.28

-21.96%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$2.67 $2.67

66.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.87 $11.87

$10.87 $10.87

9.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$8.20 $8.20

31.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$13.40 $13.40

6.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$6.28 $6.28

-23.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.30 $1.30

18.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.80 $5.80

-21.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.15 $4.15

-4.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$4.00 $4.00

-28.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.12 $3.12

-10.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.10 $2.10

-7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.91 $1.91

16.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.07 $9.07

$7.86 $7.86

15.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$14.25 $14.25

4.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.74 $1.74

31.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.46 $3.46

-1.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.03 $1.03

44.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.63 $42.63

$19.63 $19.63

117.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 $4.32

$7.45 $7.45

-42.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$3.84 $3.84

-53.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.51 $34.51

$29.35 $29.35

17.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$0.77 $0.77

-2.60%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$34.7K $34.7K

-27.29%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.7K $25.7K

3.50%

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

$176 $176

$187 $187

-5.94%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$44.16 $44.16

34.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$62.3 $62.3

7.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.4 $62.4

$35.72 $35.72

74.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.96 $9.96

$16.99 $16.99

-41.38%

Cinema Ticket

$15.04 $15.04

$11.27 $11.27

33.45%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,181 $1,181

17.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$18.1K $18.1K

23.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$40.01 $40.01

40.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 $46.71

$37.71 $37.71

23.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$87.8 $87.8

-1.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$155 $155

-22.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,174 $2,174

$1,263 $1,263

72.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 $1,439

$969 $969

48.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,754 $3,754

$1,970 $1,970

90.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 $2,698

$1,823 $1,823

48.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,033 $7,033

$2,108 $2,108

233.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,113 $3,113

$2,145 $2,145

45.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,081 $5,081

$4,256 $4,256

19.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.71

-3.87%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: June 8, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,174 in Austin, TX and $1,263 in College Station, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 19% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $64.0 in College Station, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $359 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 31% 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.

Austin, TX pays 19% 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: $2,174 in Austin, TX versus $1,263 in College Station, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,081 in College Station, TX – a 31% 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 117% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,081 in College Station, TX versus $2,719 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 31% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.