Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Elgin, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Elgin, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 35.9% more expensive than Elgin, IL without rent, and 14.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 25.8% more expensive than Elgin, IL without rent, and 17% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$15.15 $15.15

29.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$59.5 $59.5

28.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$10.04 $10.04

-0.90%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.04 $4.04

38.86%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.63 $2.63

0.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.97 $1.97

11.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.12 $6.12

-4.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$4.89 $4.89

61.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.74 $0.74

52.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.3 $3.3

$3.69 $3.69

-10.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.5 $3.5

$5.37 $5.37

-34.82%

Eggs

$4.4 $4.4

$3.95 $3.95

11.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12 $12

$11.06 $11.06

8.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$13.21 $13.21

-19.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 $14.73

$10.81 $10.81

36.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$2.24 $2.24

117.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.08 $1.08

40.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$1.63 $1.63

177.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$2.71 $2.71

44.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.66 $2.66

2.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.92 $2.92

-5.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.96 $1.96

2.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.06 $2.06

5.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 $8.86

$10.12 $10.12

-12.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$11.78 $11.78

26.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.29 $2.29

2.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$4.75 $4.75

-27.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.03 $2.03

-27.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.82 $42.82

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.3 $4.3

$4.37 $4.37

-1.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.22 $2.22

-18.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.63 $34.63

$27.82 $27.82

24.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.83 $0.83

-12.05%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$24.6K $24.6K

3.67%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

3.17%

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

$177 $177

$98.6 $98.6

79.05%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$51.7 $51.7

13.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 $64.8

$50.1 $50.1

29.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.6 $62.6

$42.98 $42.98

45.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$15.13 $15.13

-2.71%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$1,654 $1,654

-16.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$24.5K $24.5K

-8.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$40.7 $40.7

38.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.46 $46.46

$47.51 $47.51

-2.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$101 $101

-13.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$131 $131

-9.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,188 $2,188

$1,594 $1,594

37.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,395 $1,395

$1,372 $1,372

1.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,896 $3,896

$2,657 $2,657

46.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,689 $2,689

$2,267 $2,267

18.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 $4,414

$2,725 $2,725

62.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,161 $3,161

$2,428 $2,428

30.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,871 $4,871

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.55

-1.53%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Elgin, IL: October 29, 2025

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