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: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $1,445 in Emporia, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $2,358 in Emporia, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $3,272 in Emporia, KS.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 87% more expensive than in Emporia, KS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Emporia, KS 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$12.57 $12.57

58.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$58.1 $58.1

28.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$9.83 $9.83

0.20%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$4.57 $4.57

26.70%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.10 $2.10

30.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.54 $1.54

40.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$4.96 $4.96

20.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$5.87 $5.87

38.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.78 $0.78

41.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.22 $3.22

1.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$1.92 $1.92

75.52%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$2.71 $2.71

59.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$8.19 $8.19

46.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$10.72 $10.72

-1.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$14.47 $14.47

0.83%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.84 $4.84

4.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.14 $1.14

37.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$2.83 $2.83

54.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$2.85 $2.85

42.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.67 $1.67

65.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.85 $2.85

-1.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.81 $1.81

8.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.31 $2.31

-3.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$9.85 $9.85

-11.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$9.58 $9.58

53.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.74 $1.74

34.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.24 $3.24

7.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.95 $1.95

-22.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$6.66 $6.66

-35.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.22 $1.22

47.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$34.55 $34.55

1.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.78 $0.78

2.56%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.8K $30.8K

-16.52%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.1K $25.1K

7.02%

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

$173 $173

$111 $111

56.03%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$49.68 $49.68

17.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$50.0 $50.0

34.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$45.16 $45.16

36.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$12.34 $12.34

19.94%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,065 $1,065

32.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$23.4K $23.4K

-5.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$48.28 $48.28

13.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$24.65 $24.65

89.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$85.2 $85.2

2.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$86.1 $86.1

38.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$624 $624

252.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$491 $491

190.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,063 $2,063

82.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$1,154 $1,154

134.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$1,245 $1,245

488.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$1,240 $1,240

153.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$5,391 $5,391

-5.53%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Emporia, KS: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $624 in Emporia, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Emporia, KS pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $58.0 in Emporia, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $317 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 87% 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 6% 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $624 in Emporia, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $1,065 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 $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,445 in Emporia, KS versus $2,701 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 87% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.