Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Durango, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Durango, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $3,037 in Durango, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $4,158 in Durango, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $5,280 in Durango, CO.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 11% less than in Durango, CO, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Durango, CO 127% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$15.19 $15.19

31.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$60.7 $60.7

22.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$8.07 $8.07

22.06%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.41 $5.41

7.02%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.74 $2.74

0.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.78 $1.78

21.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$6.12 $6.12

-2.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$6.86 $6.86

18.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.02 $1.02

7.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.87 $2.87

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.17 $3.17

6.31%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.57 $4.57

-5.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$12.61 $12.61

-4.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$10.09 $10.09

4.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$20.33 $20.33

-28.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.79 $4.79

5.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.38 $1.38

13.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.70 $3.70

18.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.58 $4.58

-11.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.46 $2.46

12.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.51 $2.51

12.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.94 $1.94

1.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.21 $2.21

0.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$9.81 $9.81

-10.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$4.08 $4.08

260.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.76 $1.76

32.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.69 $2.69

29.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.01 $2.01

-24.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

$30.35 $30.35

40.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.50 $3.50

23.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.84 $1.84

-2.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$28.79 $28.79

22.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.83 $0.83

-3.61%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$28.8K $28.8K

-10.63%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.3K $26.3K

2.27%

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

$173 $173

$183 $183

-5.50%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$51.7 $51.7

13.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$67.9 $67.9

-1.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$18.63 $18.63

231.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.54 $13.54

9.31%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,231 $1,231

14.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$6,069 $6,069

264.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$53.9 $53.9

1.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$50.8 $50.8

-8.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$70.1 $70.1

24.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$115 $115

4.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$2,327 $2,327

-5.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,944 $1,944

-26.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$3,430 $3,430

9.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,710 $2,710

-0.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$4,856 $4,856

51.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$4,804 $4,804

-34.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$4,655 $4,655

9.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.36

1.42%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Durango, CO: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $2,327 in Durango, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $61.0 in Durango, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $358 per month, with Durango, CO 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 Durango, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX and Durango, CO differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($2,701 vs $3,037 including rent). Austin, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 9% 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $2,327 in Durango, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,701 per month in Austin, TX versus $3,037 in Durango, CO – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 41% less than in Durango, CO. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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 Durango, CO 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Durango, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.