Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Des Moines, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Des Moines, IA

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 1.9% cheaper than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 27.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 1.2% more expensive than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 30% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$15.83 $15.83

24.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$79.4 $79.4

-4.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$12.17 $12.17

-18.24%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.78 $4.78

17.36%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.32 $2.32

13.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.93 $1.93

13.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$4.86 $4.86

20.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$6.97 $6.97

13.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.97 $0.97

16.49%

White Bread (500g)

$3.3 $3.3

$2.57 $2.57

28.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.5 $3.5

$2.26 $2.26

54.87%

Eggs

$4.4 $4.4

$3.72 $3.72

18.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12 $12

$12.89 $12.89

-6.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$10.58 $10.58

0.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 $14.73

$12.82 $12.82

14.90%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$4.33 $4.33

12.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.44 $1.44

5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.75 $3.75

20.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$3.61 $3.61

8.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.66 $1.66

63.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.97 $2.97

-7.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.29 $2.29

-12.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.08 $1.08

101.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 $8.86

$7.17 $7.17

23.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$13.95 $13.95

7.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.78 $1.78

31.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$4.11 $4.11

-16.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.7 $1.7

-12.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.82 $42.82

$57 $57

-24.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.3 $4.3

$1.94 $1.94

121.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.23 $1.23

47.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.63 $34.63

$19.71 $19.71

75.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.81 $0.81

-9.88%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.7K $25.7K

-0.89%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$24.9K $24.9K

5.81%

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

$177 $177

$145 $145

21.81%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$52.1 $52.1

13.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 $64.8

$54.2 $54.2

19.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.6 $62.6

$66.1 $66.1

-5.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

$20.16 $20.16

-49.55%

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$15.29 $15.29

-3.73%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$1,380 $1,380

-0.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$12K $12K

86.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$53 $53

6.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.46 $46.46

$42.04 $42.04

10.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$74 $74

17.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$127 $127

-6.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,188 $2,188

$1,226 $1,226

78.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,395 $1,395

$896 $896

55.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,896 $3,896

$1,740 $1,740

123.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,689 $2,689

$1,494 $1,494

80.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 $4,414

$2,284 $2,284

93.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,161 $3,161

$2,291 $2,291

37.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,871 $4,871

$3,655 $3,655

33.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.5

-0.77%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Des Moines, IA: October 28, 2025

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