Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Dodge City, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Dodge City, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,715 in Austin, TX versus $2,614 in Dodge City, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Austin, TX versus $3,684 in Dodge City, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,596 in Austin, TX versus $4,754 in Dodge City, KS.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 4% more expensive than in Dodge City, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Dodge City, KS 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$17.29 $17.29

13.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$59.6 $59.6

41.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$10.02 $10.02

22.75%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$5.09 $5.09

7.07%

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

$3.62 $3.62

$2.38 $2.38

52.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.65 $1.65

46.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$5.07 $5.07

56.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$6.15 $6.15

44.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.87 $0.87

22.99%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.88 $3.88

-5.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.97 $4.97

-32.80%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$4.37 $4.37

-1.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$9.92 $9.92

31.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$8.66 $8.66

64.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$16.48 $16.48

1.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$2.56 $2.56

75.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.65 $1.65

-13.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.83 $3.83

19.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.47 $2.47

89.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.51 $2.51

7.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.17 $2.17

18.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.20 $2.20

-14.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.31 $2.31

-5.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$9.19 $9.19

9.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$12.23 $12.23

23.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.17 $2.17

34.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.70 $3.70

-11.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.94 $1.94

-21.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.46 $2.46

9.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.51 $1.51

9.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$39.62 $39.62

-11.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.90 $0.90

-1.11%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$37.1K $37.1K

-1.77%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$24.7K $24.7K

9.50%

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

$223 $223

$274 $274

-18.72%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$82.6 $82.6

-30.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$68.9 $68.9

-0.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$42.49 $42.49

54.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$15.09 $15.09

-7.55%

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

$1,523 $1,523

$900 $900

69.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$15.8K $15.8K

35.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$47.11 $47.11

12.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$36.86 $36.86

16.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$113 $113

-24.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$139 $139

-25.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$1,602 $1,602

21.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$1,276 $1,276

-0.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$2,545 $2,545

47.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$2,134 $2,134

19.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$2,739 $2,739

162.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,354 $2,354

33.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$2,820 $2,820

75.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.18

4.69%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Dodge City, KS: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,948 in Austin, TX and $1,602 in Dodge City, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 76% 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $60.0 in Dodge City, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $349 per month, with Dodge City, KS 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 Dodge City, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dodge City, KS wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dodge City, KS the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 76% 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: $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $1,602 in Dodge City, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,523 in Austin, TX versus $900 in Dodge City, KS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Dodge City, KS – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Dodge City, KS is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Dodge City, KS are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Dodge City, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.