Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and East Chicago, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and East Chicago, IN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $2,605 in East Chicago, IN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $3,763 in East Chicago, IN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $4,920 in East Chicago, IN.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 2% more expensive than in East Chicago, IN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, East Chicago, IN 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$22.18 $22.18

-10.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$80.9 $80.9

3.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$11.31 $11.31

8.49%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.00 $5.00

12.60%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$2.43 $2.43

47.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.11 $2.11

12.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.85 $6.85

14.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$7.93 $7.93

14.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.04 $1.04

9.62%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.55 $3.55

2.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.43 $4.43

-25.28%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$4.21 $4.21

5.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$11.23 $11.23

15.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$12.46 $12.46

17.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$16.41 $16.41

6.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$4.86 $4.86

-5.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.74 $1.74

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$4.33 $4.33

9.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.69 $4.69

5.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.77 $2.77

8.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.97 $2.97

-7.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.44 $2.44

-20.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.23 $2.23

-1.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$9.42 $9.42

-1.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$13.81 $13.81

7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.92 $1.92

49.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.11 $3.11

15.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.16 $2.16

-23.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.62 $2.62

7.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.64 $1.64

-3.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$27.52 $27.52

26.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.92 $0.92

3.26%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$35.6K $35.6K

0.41%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$22.2K $22.2K

20.78%

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

$229 $229

$198 $198

15.65%

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

$58.6 $58.6

-0.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$70.3 $70.3

-1.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$43.65 $43.65

50.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$12.48 $12.48

11.06%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$1,348 $1,348

11.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$26.4K $26.4K

-20.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$55.3 $55.3

-3.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$36.70 $36.70

21.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$94.9 $94.9

-4.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$127 $127

-14.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,598 $1,598

20.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,294 $1,294

-2.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$2,499 $2,499

51.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$2,100 $2,100

23.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$2,459 $2,459

198.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$2,173 $2,173

48.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$4,119 $4,119

22.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.12

5.23%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for East Chicago, IN: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $1,598 in East Chicago, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 22% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $81.0 in East Chicago, IN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $395 per month, with East Chicago, IN 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 East Chicago, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

East Chicago, IN wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making East Chicago, IN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 22% 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: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $1,598 in East Chicago, IN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,501 in Austin, TX versus $1,348 in East Chicago, IN. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in East Chicago, IN – a meal for two runs $81.0 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 $2,500. East Chicago, IN 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 East Chicago, IN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.