Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Columbus, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Columbus, IN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,138 in Columbus, IN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,216 in Columbus, IN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,293 in Columbus, IN.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 24% more expensive than Columbus, IN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Columbus, IN 60% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$16.66 $16.66

17.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$59.9 $59.9

25.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$9.95 $9.95

-0.30%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.21 $4.21

34.68%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.38 $2.38

16.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.72 $1.72

26.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$9.27 $9.27

-37.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$11.90 $11.90

-34.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.74 $0.74

47.30%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.37 $2.37

43.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.82 $2.82

21.63%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$2.35 $2.35

86.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$11.24 $11.24

6.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$17.48 $17.48

-38.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$9.54 $9.54

49.79%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.36 $4.36

11.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.24 $1.24

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.27 $4.27

4.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.36 $4.36

-10.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.97 $2.97

-7.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.02 $3.02

-9.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.06 $2.06

-0.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$0.43 $0.43

423.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$7.45 $7.45

19.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.89 $14.89

-0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.78 $1.78

32.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.86 $4.86

-26.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.05 $2.05

-28.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.41 $3.41

25.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.61 $1.61

14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$28.68 $28.68

23.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.87 $0.87

-17.24%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.7K $29.7K

-13.53%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.54%

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

$174 $174

$204 $204

-15.03%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$45.45 $45.45

32.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$64.7 $64.7

2.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$45.23 $45.23

38.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$34.36 $34.36

-71.39%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$12.21 $12.21

24.82%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$555 $555

149.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$5,058 $5,058

338.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$46.32 $46.32

22.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$39.69 $39.69

14.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$75.1 $75.1

15.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$106 $106

12.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,203 $1,203

86.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$985 $985

45.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,837 $1,837

105.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,786 $1,786

47.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$1,644 $1,644

328.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$1,641 $1,641

92.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$4,043 $4,043

26.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.54

-1.38%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Columbus, IN: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,203 in Columbus, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 26% 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $60.0 in Columbus, IN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $347 per month, with Columbus, IN 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 Columbus, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Columbus, IN 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 Columbus, IN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 26% 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 $1,203 in Columbus, IN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $555 in Columbus, IN. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Columbus, IN – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,138 in Columbus, IN versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Columbus, IN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Columbus, IN 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 Columbus, IN 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.