Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Colorado Springs, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Colorado Springs, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $3,044 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $4,227 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $5,410 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 13% less than in Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Colorado Springs, CO 127% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$20.21 $20.21

-2.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$86.5 $86.5

-13.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$9.96 $9.96

-0.40%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$6.12 $6.12

-7.35%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$3.30 $3.30

-16.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.34 $2.34

-7.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.09 $6.09

-4.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.98 $6.98

11.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.00 $1.00

9.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.62 $3.62

-5.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.38 $4.38

-21.69%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$5.66 $5.66

-22.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$15.17 $15.17

-21.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$14.72 $14.72

-26.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$18.57 $18.57

-23.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.56 $4.56

6.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.53 $1.53

1.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.84 $3.84

16.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.87 $4.87

-19.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.64 $2.64

3.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.61 $2.61

4.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.27 $2.27

-10.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.31 $2.31

-2.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$9.86 $9.86

-9.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$18.71 $18.71

-20.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.26 $2.26

3.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.84 $3.84

-7.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.36 $2.36

-37.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$61.8 $61.8

-30.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.52 $2.52

69.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.37 $1.37

34.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$25.05 $25.05

41.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.79 $0.79

-8.86%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.3K $27.3K

-5.67%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

3.22%

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

$174 $174

$192 $192

-9.69%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$73.7 $73.7

-18.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$100 $100

-33.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$60.2 $60.2

4.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$30.27 $30.27

-67.53%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$14.76 $14.76

3.25%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,479 $1,479

-6.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

-9.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$57.8 $57.8

-1.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$36.99 $36.99

22.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$91.4 $91.4

-5.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$99.2 $99.2

20.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,741 $1,741

29.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,593 $1,593

-10.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,548 $2,548

48.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,310 $2,310

14.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,604 $2,604

170.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,464 $2,464

28.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$4,246 $4,246

20.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.6

-2.27%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Colorado Springs, CO: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,741 in Colorado Springs, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $87.0 in Colorado Springs, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $439 per month, with Austin, 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 Colorado Springs, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Colorado Springs, CO. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 20% 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 $1,741 in Colorado Springs, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $3,044 in Colorado Springs, CO – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 44% less than in Colorado Springs, CO. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Colorado Springs, CO 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Colorado Springs, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.