Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Denton, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Denton, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,273 in Denton, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,287 in Denton, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,301 in Denton, TX.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 19% more expensive than in Denton, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Denton, TX 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$14.74 $14.74

33.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$64.5 $64.5

17.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$8.99 $8.99

9.68%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.80 $4.80

14.17%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.05 $2.05

29.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.69 $1.69

23.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.78 $5.78

5.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$6.12 $6.12

33.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.82 $0.82

34.15%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.82 $2.82

20.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$4.07 $4.07

-16.95%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.80 $3.80

15.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$11.36 $11.36

6.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$10.37 $10.37

4.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$11.29 $11.29

30.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.41 $4.41

12.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.44 $1.44

4.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.22 $4.22

4.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.60 $4.60

-10.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.88 $2.88

-2.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.19 $2.19

31.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.72 $1.72

13.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.36 $2.36

-7.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$11.12 $11.12

-19.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$10.91 $10.91

38.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.77 $1.77

31.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.34 $2.34

46.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.98 $1.98

-22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$48.62 $48.62

-9.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.32 $2.32

90.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.22 $1.22

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$29.67 $29.67

16.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.75 $0.75

4.00%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.2K $24.2K

7.36%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$23.7K $23.7K

9.35%

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

$175 $175

$234 $234

-25.26%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$72.6 $72.6

-17.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$82.0 $82.0

-20.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$26.57 $26.57

130.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$10.10 $10.10

46.14%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,586 $1,586

-13.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.3K $23.3K

-4.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$44.30 $44.30

27.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$39.01 $39.01

16.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$58.8 $58.8

44.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$74.7 $74.7

58.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,374 $1,374

60.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,039 $1,039

35.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,777 $2,777

37.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$1,815 $1,815

47.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$5,187 $5,187

37.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$3,363 $3,363

-8.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$3,779 $3,779

35.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Denton, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,374 in Denton, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 35% 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 $65.0 in Denton, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $342 per month, with Denton, TX 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 Denton, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Denton, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Denton, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 35% 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 $1,374 in Denton, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,273 in Denton, TX – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Denton, TX runs roughly 10% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,273 in Denton, TX versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Denton, TX but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Denton, TX 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 Denton, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.