Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and East Lansing, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and East Lansing, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,168 in East Lansing, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,119 in East Lansing, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,071 in East Lansing, MI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 23% more expensive than East Lansing, MI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, East Lansing, MI 62% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$13.03 $13.03

50.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$65.7 $65.7

14.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$9.83 $9.83

0.92%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.53 $4.53

25.17%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.29 $2.29

20.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.33 $1.33

63.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.05 $5.05

15.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$5.05 $5.05

53.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.75 $0.75

45.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.84 $2.84

20.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.15 $4.15

-17.35%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$2.44 $2.44

79.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$12.51 $12.51

-4.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$11.55 $11.55

-6.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$14.95 $14.95

-4.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$3.92 $3.92

23.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.79 $1.79

-13.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.39 $3.39

31.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.75 $3.75

4.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.34 $2.34

17.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.97 $1.97

39.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.30 $2.30

-11.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.14 $2.14

5.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$10.09 $10.09

-11.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$15.69 $15.69

-5.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.70 $1.70

38.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$1.54 $1.54

131.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.59 $1.59

-7.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$49.43 $49.43

-13.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.44 $2.44

75.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.36 $1.36

35.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$40.37 $40.37

-11.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.82 $0.82

-12.20%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.3K $29.3K

-12.11%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.70%

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

$174 $174

$176 $176

-1.51%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$50.5 $50.5

19.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$62.6 $62.6

5.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$35.94 $35.94

74.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$14.87 $14.87

-33.89%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$11.14 $11.14

36.80%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,477 $1,477

-6.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$14.1K $14.1K

57.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$43.73 $43.73

29.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$37.27 $37.27

21.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$68.8 $68.8

25.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$65.6 $65.6

81.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,242 $1,242

81.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,055 $1,055

35.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,055 $2,055

83.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,649 $1,649

60.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,027 $2,027

247.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$1,588 $1,588

99.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$5,999 $5,999

-14.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for East Lansing, MI: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,242 in East Lansing, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

East Lansing, MI pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $66.0 in East Lansing, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $354 per month, with East Lansing, MI 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 Lansing, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

East Lansing, MI wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making East Lansing, MI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, East Lansing, MI earns 17% less. 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,242 in East Lansing, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,168 in East Lansing, MI – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in East Lansing, MI runs roughly 15% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,168 in East Lansing, MI versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in East Lansing, MI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes East Lansing, MI 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 East Lansing, MI 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 East Lansing, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.