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: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,189 in Dayton, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,200 in Dayton, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,212 in Dayton, OH.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 24% more expensive than Dayton, OH, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Dayton, OH 63% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$16.33 $16.33

22.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$59.0 $59.0

29.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$9.88 $9.88

2.53%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.25 $4.25

29.18%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.39 $2.39

13.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.71 $1.71

25.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.18 $4.18

45.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$5.92 $5.92

35.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.75 $0.75

45.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.50 $2.50

33.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.60 $3.60

-5.00%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.51 $3.51

23.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$11.52 $11.52

2.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$18.85 $18.85

-43.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$15.30 $15.30

-5.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.77 $4.77

0.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.55 $1.55

-3.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.73 $5.73

-21.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.22 $5.22

-22.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.96 $2.96

-6.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.05 $3.05

-8.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.11 $2.11

-3.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.65 $2.65

-18.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$9.37 $9.37

-1.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$12.02 $12.02

23.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.70 $1.70

34.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.79 $3.79

-6.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$4.24 $4.24

-64.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$61.0 $61.0

-28.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$4.87 $4.87

-11.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.44 $1.44

26.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$49.69 $49.69

-28.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.88 $0.88

-12.50%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$29.7K $29.7K

-13.62%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

3.07%

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

$172 $172

$205 $205

-15.86%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$45.62 $45.62

32.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$63.8 $63.8

5.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$33.53 $33.53

87.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

$45.19 $45.19

-78.20%

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$13.14 $13.14

12.10%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$556 $556

151.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$4,909 $4,909

343.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$45.61 $45.61

20.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$52.8 $52.8

-13.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$74.3 $74.3

16.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$105 $105

10.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,200 $1,200

87.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$912 $912

53.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$1,681 $1,681

125.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$1,396 $1,396

93.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$1,436 $1,436

132.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$3,328 $3,328

47.57%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Dayton, OH: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,200 in Dayton, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 48% 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 in Austin, TX vs $59 in Dayton, OH. Groceries flip the comparison at $375 vs $413, 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 24% 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 48% 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,200 in Dayton, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,189 in Dayton, OH – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dayton, OH runs roughly 40% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,189 in Dayton, OH versus $2,719 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 24% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.