Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Emporia, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Emporia, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $1,467 in Emporia, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $2,386 in Emporia, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $3,305 in Emporia, KS.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 85% more expensive than Emporia, KS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Emporia, KS 9% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$12.28 $12.28

62.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$57.6 $57.6

32.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$9.67 $9.67

4.76%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.36 $4.36

25.92%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.18 $2.18

24.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.57 $1.57

36.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.02 $5.02

20.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$5.95 $5.95

35.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.80 $0.80

36.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.17 $3.17

5.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$1.97 $1.97

73.60%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$2.75 $2.75

57.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$8.06 $8.06

46.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$10.99 $10.99

-2.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$14.13 $14.13

2.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.02 $5.02

-4.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.14 $1.14

31.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.69 $2.69

67.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$2.89 $2.89

39.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.70 $1.70

62.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.73 $2.73

2.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.87 $1.87

9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.24 $2.24

-4.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$9.89 $9.89

-6.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$9.23 $9.23

60.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.73 $1.73

32.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.28 $3.28

7.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.96 $1.96

-22.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$6.72 $6.72

-36.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.22 $1.22

49.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$34.59 $34.59

2.69%

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

$30.6K $30.6K

-16.13%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.0K $25.0K

5.26%

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

$172 $172

$112 $112

54.10%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$48.91 $48.91

23.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$50.6 $50.6

32.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$45.53 $45.53

38.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$12.60 $12.60

16.90%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,070 $1,070

30.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.5K $23.5K

-7.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$48.93 $48.93

12.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$24.69 $24.69

84.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$86.3 $86.3

0.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$85.7 $85.7

34.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$615 $615

265.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$503 $503

178.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,122 $2,122

78.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$1,152 $1,152

135.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$1,245 $1,245

486.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$1,269 $1,269

162.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$5,502 $5,502

-10.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.54

-1.38%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Emporia, KS: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $615 in Emporia, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Emporia, KS pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $58 in Emporia, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $316 per month, with Emporia, KS 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 Emporia, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Emporia, KS wins on cost – living expenses run 85% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Emporia, KS the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Emporia, KS earns 12% 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $615 in Emporia, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,070 in Emporia, KS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Emporia, KS – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,467 in Emporia, KS versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Emporia, KS but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Emporia, KS 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 Emporia, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.