Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Decatur, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Decatur, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $1,636 in Decatur, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $2,500 in Decatur, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $3,364 in Decatur, IL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 65% more expensive than in Decatur, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Decatur, IL 22% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$19.27 $19.27

2.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$67.9 $67.9

12.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$9.09 $9.09

8.47%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.16 $5.16

6.20%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.24 $2.24

18.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.68 $1.68

24.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.88 $4.88

24.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$6.10 $6.10

33.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.78 $0.78

41.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.63 $2.63

28.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$2.04 $2.04

65.69%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.71 $3.71

18.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$8.77 $8.77

37.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$7.58 $7.58

43.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$13.44 $13.44

9.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.38 $4.38

13.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.22 $2.22

-31.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.53 $4.53

-2.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.33 $3.33

23.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$0.85 $0.85

230.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.08 $1.08

165.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.52 $1.52

28.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.48 $2.48

-12.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$6.88 $6.88

30.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.14 $15.14

-0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.85 $1.85

25.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.95 $1.95

75.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.99 $1.99

-22.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.94 $2.94

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.39 $1.39

31.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$29.43 $29.43

17.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.83 $0.83

-6.02%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$29.6K $29.6K

-12.39%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.5K $25.5K

1.54%

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

$175 $175

$85.2 $85.2

104.92%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$61.1 $61.1

-2.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$63.3 $63.3

3.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$74.0 $74.0

-17.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$12.16 $12.16

21.38%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,320 $1,320

3.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

-5.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$56.0 $56.0

0.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$44.05 $44.05

2.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$76.5 $76.5

11.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$194 $194

-39.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$859 $859

156.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$565 $565

148.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$1,019 $1,019

274.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$808 $808

231.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$950 $950

651.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$952 $952

223.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$4,468 $4,468

14.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.56

-1.68%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Decatur, IL: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $859 in Decatur, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 14% 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: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $68.0 in Decatur, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $316 per month, with Decatur, IL 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 Decatur, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Decatur, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 65% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Decatur, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 14% 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $859 in Decatur, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,372 in Austin, TX versus $1,320 in Decatur, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Decatur, IL – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,636 in Decatur, IL versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Decatur, IL but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Decatur, IL 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 Decatur, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.