Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Dover, DE Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Dover, DE

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,621 in Dover, DE.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,779 in Dover, DE.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,937 in Dover, DE.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 3% more expensive than in Dover, DE, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Dover, DE 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$12.80 $12.80

54.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$59.9 $59.9

40.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$10.44 $10.44

17.82%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.08 $5.08

7.87%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.23 $2.23

66.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.26 $2.26

4.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$4.93 $4.93

57.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$8.09 $8.09

12.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.01 $1.01

11.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.78 $2.78

34.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.67 $2.67

28.46%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.86 $4.86

-10.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$12.14 $12.14

8.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$14.42 $14.42

-0.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$19.02 $19.02

-9.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.94 $4.94

-9.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.13 $1.13

27.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$6.27 $6.27

-25.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.37 $5.37

-7.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.12 $3.12

-3.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.06 $2.06

30.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.76 $1.76

5.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.47 $2.47

-11.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$8.28 $8.28

14.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.82 $14.82

1.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.72 $1.72

68.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$5.07 $5.07

-31.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.93 $0.93

-3.23%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

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

$27.7K $27.7K

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

$222 $222

$219 $219

1.57%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$49.44 $49.44

17.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$73.7 $73.7

-6.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$118 $118

-43.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$16.75 $16.75

-17.73%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$694 $694

119.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$22.0K $22.0K

-3.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$46.75 $46.75

16.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$36.26 $36.26

21.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$111 $111

-19.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$201 $201

-45.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,670 $1,670

16.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,240 $1,240

1.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,410 $2,410

56.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,089 $2,089

24.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,036 $2,036

263.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,090 $2,090

53.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$5,799 $5,799

-12.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.3

2.22%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Dover, DE: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,670 in Dover, DE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dover, DE pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $60.0 in Dover, DE for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $416 per month, with Dover, DE 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 Dover, DE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dover, DE wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dover, DE the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 14% lower in Dover, DE. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,670 in Dover, DE. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $694 in Dover, DE. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Dover, DE – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Dover, DE 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.

Expats usually find Dover, DE gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.