Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Conway, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Conway, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $1,969 in Conway, AR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $2,996 in Conway, AR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $4,023 in Conway, AR.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 37% more expensive than in Conway, AR, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Conway, AR 47% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$15.30 $15.30

30.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$49.36 $49.36

50.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$8.64 $8.64

14.00%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$4.28 $4.28

35.28%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.32 $2.32

18.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.95 $1.95

11.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$4.06 $4.06

47.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$6.15 $6.15

31.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.87 $0.87

26.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.01 $3.01

8.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.04 $2.04

65.20%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$3.31 $3.31

30.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$9.33 $9.33

28.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$9.38 $9.38

12.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$14.63 $14.63

-0.27%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.49 $4.49

12.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.27 $1.27

23.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.18 $3.18

37.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.00 $4.00

1.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.66 $1.66

66.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.55 $2.55

10.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.91 $1.91

2.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.91 $1.91

16.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$6.80 $6.80

28.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$12.22 $12.22

20.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.68 $1.68

39.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.62 $3.62

-4.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.34 $1.34

13.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

$36.07 $36.07

18.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.06 $3.06

40.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.40 $1.40

28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$23.98 $23.98

46.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.78 $0.78

2.56%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.2K $30.2K

-14.90%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.8K $25.8K

4.16%

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

$173 $173

$236 $236

-26.66%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$39.90 $39.90

46.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$72.1 $72.1

-6.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$24.56 $24.56

151.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$12.02 $12.02

23.13%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$770 $770

83.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$10.1K $10.1K

118.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$52.4 $52.4

4.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$33.76 $33.76

38.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$69.8 $69.8

25.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$103 $103

15.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$779 $779

182.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$832 $832

71.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$1,241 $1,241

203.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$1,647 $1,647

64.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$1,661 $1,661

341.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$1,645 $1,645

90.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$3,205 $3,205

58.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.65

-3.01%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Conway, AR: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $779 in Conway, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 59% 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 $49.00 in Conway, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $323 per month, with Conway, AR 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 Conway, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Conway, AR wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Conway, AR the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 59% 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $779 in Conway, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,701 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,969 in Conway, AR – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Conway, AR runs roughly 18% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,969 in Conway, AR versus $2,701 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Conway, AR but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Conway, AR 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 Conway, AR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.