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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,635 in Columbus, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,906 in Columbus, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $5,178 in Columbus, OH.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 3% more expensive than in Columbus, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Columbus, OH 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$20.09 $20.09

-1.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$79.9 $79.9

-4.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.81 $10.81

-8.79%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.81 $4.81

13.93%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.60 $2.60

1.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.27 $2.27

-7.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.88 $5.88

3.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$7.06 $7.06

15.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.83 $0.83

32.53%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.14 $3.14

7.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$4.13 $4.13

-18.16%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.28 $3.28

33.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$12.89 $12.89

-6.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$14.15 $14.15

-23.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$16.32 $16.32

-10.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.93 $5.93

-16.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.29 $1.29

17.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$5.70 $5.70

-22.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.09 $5.09

-19.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.64 $3.64

-22.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.98 $2.98

-3.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.27 $2.27

-14.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.06 $2.06

5.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$9.47 $9.47

-5.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$16.75 $16.75

-9.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.99 $1.99

17.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.59 $2.59

32.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.05 $2.05

-24.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$61.0 $61.0

-27.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.09 $3.09

42.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.29 $1.29

41.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$27.48 $27.48

26.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.87 $0.87

-10.34%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$29.5K $29.5K

-11.98%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.4K $25.4K

1.74%

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

$175 $175

$270 $270

-35.30%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$60.2 $60.2

-0.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$68.5 $68.5

-4.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$46.93 $46.93

30.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

$39.93 $39.93

-75.23%

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$12.08 $12.08

22.19%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,214 $1,214

12.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$15.5K $15.5K

42.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$55.3 $55.3

2.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$39.16 $39.16

15.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$80.6 $80.6

5.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$104 $104

13.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,601 $1,601

37.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,215 $1,215

15.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,953 $2,953

29.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,068 $2,068

29.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$3,506 $3,506

103.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$1,764 $1,764

74.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$3,741 $3,741

36.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Columbus, OH: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,601 in Columbus, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 37% 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: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $80.0 in Columbus, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $413 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 Columbus, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Columbus, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Columbus, OH the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 37% 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,601 in Columbus, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,635 in Columbus, OH – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Columbus, OH runs roughly 38% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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

Both work as nomad bases, but Columbus, OH delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,635 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Columbus, OH hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Columbus, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.