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: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $1,568 in Emporia, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $2,508 in Emporia, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $3,448 in Emporia, KS.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 72% more expensive than in Emporia, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Emporia, KS 14% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$16.21 $16.21

22.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$75.8 $75.8

10.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$12.13 $12.13

1.40%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.61 $4.61

18.87%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.26 $2.26

64.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.63 $1.63

44.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.02 $5.02

54.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$5.87 $5.87

55.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.82 $0.82

37.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.18 $3.18

17.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.89 $1.89

81.48%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$2.73 $2.73

59.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$7.97 $7.97

64.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$8.94 $8.94

60.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$14.02 $14.02

22.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.02 $5.02

-10.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.20 $1.20

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.80 $2.80

66.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.74 $2.74

81.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.67 $1.67

79.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.80 $2.80

-3.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.89 $1.89

-2.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.35 $2.35

-7.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$10.04 $10.04

-5.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$9.77 $9.77

54.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.77 $1.77

63.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.47 $2.47

41.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$4.92 $4.92

-42.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.84 $1.84

-14.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$34.68 $34.68

1.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.88 $0.88

2.27%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$36.1K $36.1K

-0.66%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

8.50%

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

$222 $222

$123 $123

79.88%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$50.8 $50.8

14.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$49.73 $49.73

38.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$45.48 $45.48

45.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$12.52 $12.52

10.06%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$831 $831

83.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$50.5 $50.5

8.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$24.76 $24.76

77.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$89.1 $89.1

0.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$86.0 $86.0

26.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$687 $687

182.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$535 $535

135.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$1,723 $1,723

118.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,107 $1,107

134.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,266 $1,266

484.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$1,261 $1,261

154.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$5,424 $5,424

-6.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.03

6.80%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Emporia, KS: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $687 in Emporia, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Emporia, KS pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $76.0 in Emporia, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $306 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 72% 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, salaries run 7% lower in Emporia, KS. 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $687 in Emporia, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $831 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 $76.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,568 in Emporia, KS versus $2,695 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 72% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.