Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fargo, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fargo, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,092 in Fargo, ND.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,243 in Fargo, ND.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $4,394 in Fargo, ND.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 29% more expensive than in Fargo, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Fargo, ND 57% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$15.23 $15.23

31.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$49.63 $49.63

50.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$10.97 $10.97

-10.21%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.40 $5.40

7.22%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.68 $2.68

2.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.96 $1.96

10.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$6.03 $6.03

-0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$8.24 $8.24

-1.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.22 $1.22

-9.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.44 $3.44

-4.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$5.93 $5.93

-43.17%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.05 $4.05

6.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$12.66 $12.66

-5.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$15.05 $15.05

-29.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$19.50 $19.50

-25.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$8.29 $8.29

-39.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.83 $2.83

-44.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$6.60 $6.60

-33.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.71 $4.71

-13.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.74 $3.74

-25.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.58 $3.58

-21.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.02 $2.02

-2.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.64 $2.64

-15.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$9.32 $9.32

-6.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$18.64 $18.64

-21.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.63 $2.63

-11.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.84 $4.84

-28.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.46 $1.46

4.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

$41.61 $41.61

2.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$4.61 $4.61

-6.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.66 $1.66

8.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$29.43 $29.43

19.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.83 $0.83

-3.61%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$33.4K $33.4K

-22.92%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.8K $25.8K

3.98%

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

$173 $173

$159 $159

8.84%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$54.2 $54.2

7.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$58.0 $58.0

15.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$54.9 $54.9

12.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.61 $13.61

8.74%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,240 $1,240

14.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$23.0K $23.0K

-3.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$50.9 $50.9

7.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$47.14 $47.14

-1.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$90.0 $90.0

-2.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$109 $109

9.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$969 $969

127.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$753 $753

89.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,604 $2,604

44.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$1,539 $1,539

75.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$1,774 $1,774

313.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$1,810 $1,810

73.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$3,773 $3,773

34.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.56

-1.68%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Fargo, ND: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $969 in Fargo, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 35% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $50.0 in Fargo, ND. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $485, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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 Fargo, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fargo, ND wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fargo, ND the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 35% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $969 in Fargo, ND. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,701 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,092 in Fargo, ND – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Fargo, ND runs roughly 3% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,092 in Fargo, ND versus $2,701 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Fargo, ND but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Fargo, ND the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Fargo, ND delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,092 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Fargo, ND hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Fargo, ND are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Fargo, ND gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.