Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and El Dorado, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and El Dorado, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $1,688 in El Dorado, AR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $2,428 in El Dorado, AR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $3,168 in El Dorado, AR.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 61% more expensive than El Dorado, AR, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, El Dorado, AR 26% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$17.66 $17.66

13.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$59.2 $59.2

28.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$11.36 $11.36

-10.83%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.84 $4.84

13.43%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.79 $2.79

-2.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.33 $2.33

-8.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.09 $5.09

19.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$6.14 $6.14

30.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.03 $1.03

5.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.53 $3.53

-5.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.99 $2.99

14.38%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.07 $3.07

40.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$9.79 $9.79

20.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.53 $11.53

-7.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$16.55 $16.55

-12.39%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.29 $4.29

11.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.41 $1.41

6.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.85 $2.85

58.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.85 $3.85

4.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.58 $1.58

74.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.48 $2.48

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.99 $1.99

2.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.75 $1.75

22.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$8.31 $8.31

11.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$12.21 $12.21

21.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.65 $1.65

38.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.15 $2.15

64.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.98 $1.98

-23.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.45 $2.45

75.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.48 $1.48

22.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$23.76 $23.76

49.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.76 $0.76

1.32%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$24.0K $24.0K

6.75%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.72%

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

$172 $172

$137 $137

25.84%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$58.8 $58.8

2.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$40.76 $40.76

64.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.83 $43.83

43.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$8.86 $8.86

66.25%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,030 $1,030

35.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$18.8K $18.8K

15.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$53.4 $53.4

3.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$35.40 $35.40

28.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$78.5 $78.5

10.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$58.8 $58.8

96.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,595 $1,595

40.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$615 $615

127.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,254 $2,254

67.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$809 $809

234.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,716 $2,716

168.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,185 $2,185

52.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$4,154 $4,154

18.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.58

-1.98%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for El Dorado, AR: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,595 in El Dorado, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 18% 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 $59 in El Dorado, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $343 per month, with El Dorado, AR 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 El Dorado, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Dorado, AR wins on cost – living expenses run 61% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making El Dorado, AR the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 18% 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 $1,595 in El Dorado, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,030 in El Dorado, AR. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in El Dorado, AR – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,688 in El Dorado, AR versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in El Dorado, AR but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes El Dorado, AR 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.

Expats usually find El Dorado, AR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.