Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Crystal Lake, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Crystal Lake, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,924 in Crystal Lake, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,956 in Crystal Lake, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,988 in Crystal Lake, IL.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 7% less than in Crystal Lake, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Crystal Lake, IL 118% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$14.83 $14.83

34.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$74.0 $74.0

2.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.81 $10.81

-6.29%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.40 $5.40

1.67%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.69 $2.69

1.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.37 $2.37

-9.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.94 $5.94

2.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$6.97 $6.97

15.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.88 $0.88

23.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.84 $3.84

-13.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$5.35 $5.35

-36.07%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.09 $4.09

5.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$13.75 $13.75

-14.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$13.47 $13.47

-20.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$16.73 $16.73

-13.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.46 $4.46

7.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.48 $1.48

1.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.96 $5.96

-24.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.77 $4.77

-15.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.68 $2.68

2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.03 $3.03

-7.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.99 $1.99

2.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.97 $1.97

9.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$9.82 $9.82

-6.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.30 $15.30

-3.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.36 $2.36

-2.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.91 $4.91

-28.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.94 $1.94

-21.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$4.39 $4.39

-2.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.15 $2.15

-15.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$41.82 $41.82

-15.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.82 $0.82

-6.10%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$24.9K $24.9K

2.98%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.87%

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

$172 $172

$215 $215

-19.93%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$50.9 $50.9

18.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$76.2 $76.2

-11.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.14 $43.14

45.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$15.08 $15.08

-2.32%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,646 $1,646

-15.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$24.6K $24.6K

-11.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$67.5 $67.5

-18.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$48.27 $48.27

-5.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$102 $102

-14.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$131 $131

-11.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,627 $1,627

38.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,612 $1,612

-13.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,579 $2,579

46.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,225 $2,225

21.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,643 $2,643

176.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,121 $2,121

57.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.55

-1.53%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Crystal Lake, IL: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,627 in Crystal Lake, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $74 in Crystal Lake, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $375 vs $421, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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 Crystal Lake, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Crystal Lake, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,079 in Austin, TX and $4,385 in Crystal Lake, IL to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,627 in Crystal Lake, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,646 in Crystal Lake, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $74.0 in Crystal Lake, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 Crystal Lake, IL 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 8% less than in Crystal Lake, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.