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

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 3.2% cheaper than Columbus, OH without rent, and 4.8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 1.9% cheaper than Columbus, OH without rent, and 7.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Columbus, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.50 $19.50
$20.30 $20.30
-3.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.3 $75.3
$81.0 $81.0
-7.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 $9.88
$11.16 $11.16
-11.47%
Cappuccino
$5.74 $5.74
$4.91 $4.91
16.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.59 $2.59
7.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.28 $2.28
-6.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.11 $6.11
$5.90 $5.90
3.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86 $7.86
$7.20 $7.20
9.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Columbus, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.89 $0.89
22.47%
White Bread (500g)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.07 $3.07
12.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$4.22 $4.22
-21.56%
Eggs
$4.29 $4.29
$3.27 $3.27
31.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.98 $11.98
$13.27 $13.27
-9.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.74 $10.74
$14.24 $14.24
-24.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.79 $14.79
$15.86 $15.86
-6.75%
Apples (1kg)
$5.00 $5.00
$6.03 $6.03
-17.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.35 $1.35
10.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$5.63 $5.63
-21.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.95 $3.95
$5.23 $5.23
-24.47%
Potato (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$3.62 $3.62
-24.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.00 $3.00
-9.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.25 $2.25
-9.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.09 $2.09
8.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.09 $9.09
$9.75 $9.75
-6.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.99 $14.99
$17.73 $17.73
-15.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.01 $2.01
16.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 $3.54
$2.47 $2.47
43.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Columbus, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.99 $1.99
-25.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.05 $44.05
$61.4 $61.4
-28.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.47 $4.47
$3.06 $3.06
46.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.28 $1.28
37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.44 $34.44
$27.24 $27.24
26.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 $0.74
$0.79 $0.79
-6.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$30.2K $30.2K
-15.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$25.3K $25.3K
5.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Columbus, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$275 $275
-37.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.3 $59.3
$61.5 $61.5
-3.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.5 $66.5
$68.4 $68.4
-2.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Columbus, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.1 $63.1
$46.84 $46.84
34.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17 $10.17
$39.26 $39.26
-74.10%
Cinema Ticket
$15.28 $15.28
$12.19 $12.19
25.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Columbus, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,406 $1,406
$1,219 $1,219
15.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.0K $22.0K
$15.3K $15.3K
43.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Columbus, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 $56.4
$55.9 $55.9
0.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.72 $45.72
$38.48 $38.48
18.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.0 $86.0
$82.2 $82.2
4.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$104 $104
13.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Columbus, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,196 $2,196
$1,541 $1,541
42.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,434 $1,434
$1,192 $1,192
20.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,878 $3,878
$2,967 $2,967
30.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,610 $2,610
$2,067 $2,067
26.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,228 $7,228
$3,427 $3,427
110.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,282 $3,282
$1,782 $1,782
84.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Columbus, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,984 $4,984
$3,866 $3,866
28.93%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Columbus, OH: April 12, 2026

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

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