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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,179 in Dayton, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,182 in Dayton, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,185 in Dayton, OH.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 22% more expensive than Dayton, OH, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Dayton, OH 63% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$16.83 $16.83

16.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$60.8 $60.8

23.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$9.97 $9.97

-0.50%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.20 $4.20

35.00%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.37 $2.37

16.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.75 $1.75

24.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$4.37 $4.37

33.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.03 $6.03

28.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.79 $0.79

37.97%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.45 $2.45

39.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.67 $3.67

-6.54%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.52 $3.52

24.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$11.45 $11.45

4.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$18.48 $18.48

-41.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$15.58 $15.58

-8.28%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.96 $4.96

-2.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.63 $1.63

-4.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.65 $5.65

-21.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.27 $5.27

-25.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.89 $2.89

-5.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.17 $3.17

-13.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.08 $2.08

-1.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.78 $2.78

-19.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$9.35 $9.35

-4.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$12.08 $12.08

22.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.75 $1.75

34.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.84 $3.84

-7.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$4.20 $4.20

-65.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$59.1 $59.1

-27.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$4.95 $4.95

-13.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.42 $1.42

29.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$50.3 $50.3

-29.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.85 $0.85

-15.29%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.2K $29.2K

-11.98%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.96%

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

$174 $174

$201 $201

-13.78%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$44.98 $44.98

33.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$63.1 $63.1

5.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$33.96 $33.96

84.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$44.75 $44.75

-78.03%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$12.87 $12.87

18.41%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$544 $544

155.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$5,017 $5,017

341.62%

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

$51.9 $51.9

-12.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$72.8 $72.8

18.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$106 $106

12.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,182 $1,182

90.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$929 $929

54.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,680 $1,680

124.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,364 $1,364

93.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$1,447 $1,447

118.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,298 $3,298

54.89%

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 Dayton, OH: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,182 in Dayton, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 55% 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 $61.0 in Dayton, OH. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $415, 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 Dayton, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dayton, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dayton, OH the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 55% 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 $1,182 in Dayton, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,179 in Dayton, OH – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dayton, OH runs roughly 37% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,179 in Dayton, OH versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dayton, OH but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Dayton, OH 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 Dayton, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.