Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Dubuque, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Dubuque, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $1,813 in Dubuque, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $2,555 in Dubuque, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $3,297 in Dubuque, IA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 50% more expensive than Dubuque, IA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Dubuque, IA 35% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$15.69 $15.69

27.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$50.5 $50.5

51.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.09 $10.09

0.40%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.60 $4.60

19.35%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$1.97 $1.97

38.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.03 $1.03

107.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$2.92 $2.92

107.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$4.60 $4.60

74.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.77 $0.77

41.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.34 $2.34

42.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.11 $3.11

9.97%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$2.79 $2.79

54.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$9.77 $9.77

20.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$9.99 $9.99

6.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$14.10 $14.10

2.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$3.67 $3.67

30.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.16 $1.16

29.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.56 $3.56

26.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.34 $3.34

20.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.81 $1.81

52.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.09 $2.09

33.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.87 $1.87

9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.97 $1.97

9.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$8.24 $8.24

12.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$13.31 $13.31

11.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.81 $1.81

26.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.82 $2.82

25.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.32 $1.32

15.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$44.21 $44.21

-1.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.88 $2.88

48.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.64 $1.64

10.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$20.64 $20.64

72.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.81 $0.81

-4.94%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$29.9K $29.9K

-14.31%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$22.5K $22.5K

16.83%

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

$172 $172

$183 $183

-5.70%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$48.28 $48.28

24.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$63.8 $63.8

5.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$38.22 $38.22

64.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$8.58 $8.58

71.68%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$787 $787

77.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.8K $23.8K

-8.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$42.57 $42.57

29.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$35.34 $35.34

29.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$79.5 $79.5

9.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$91.3 $91.3

26.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$963 $963

133.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$750 $750

86.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$1,408 $1,408

168.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$966 $966

180.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$1,749 $1,749

317.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$1,740 $1,740

91.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$4,664 $4,664

5.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

4.88

32.17%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Dubuque, IA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $963 in Dubuque, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 5% 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 in Austin, TX vs $50 in Dubuque, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $315 per month, with Dubuque, IA 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 Dubuque, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dubuque, IA wins on cost – living expenses run 50% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dubuque, IA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 5% more on average, 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $963 in Dubuque, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,813 in Dubuque, IA – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dubuque, IA runs roughly 1% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,813 in Dubuque, IA versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dubuque, IA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Dubuque, IA 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Dubuque, IA 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 Dubuque, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.