Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Farmington Hills, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Farmington Hills, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,769 in Farmington Hills, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,823 in Farmington Hills, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,877 in Farmington Hills, MI.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 2% less than in Farmington Hills, MI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Farmington Hills, MI 107% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$17.64 $17.64

11.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$60.0 $60.0

26.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.48 $10.48

-5.92%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.62 $4.62

18.61%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.06 $2.06

28.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.62 $1.62

29.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.86 $5.86

3.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$6.54 $6.54

24.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.87 $0.87

26.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.09 $2.09

62.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$4.30 $4.30

-21.40%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.20 $3.20

37.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$10.72 $10.72

12.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$11.96 $11.96

-9.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$14.86 $14.86

-1.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$7.30 $7.30

-32.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.37 $1.37

10.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$5.82 $5.82

-24.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.15 $5.15

-20.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.17 $2.17

29.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.96 $3.96

-27.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.34 $2.34

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.62 $1.62

34.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$9.02 $9.02

-0.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$13.10 $13.10

15.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.76 $1.76

32.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.33 $2.33

47.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.95 $2.95

-47.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$66.3 $66.3

-33.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.58 $4.58

-3.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.24 $1.24

47.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$28.17 $28.17

23.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.84 $0.84

-7.14%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.4K $24.4K

6.25%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$24.7K $24.7K

4.92%

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

$175 $175

$119 $119

46.27%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$45.39 $45.39

31.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$61.6 $61.6

6.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$43.49 $43.49

40.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

$34.52 $34.52

-71.35%

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$11.20 $11.20

31.79%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$961 $961

42.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$17.0K $17.0K

30.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$40.64 $40.64

39.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$40.60 $40.60

11.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$53.4 $53.4

59.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$99.4 $99.4

19.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,475 $1,475

49.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,622 $1,622

-13.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,705 $2,705

41.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,212 $2,212

21.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$2,875 $2,875

148.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$1,667 $1,667

84.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$5,673 $5,673

-9.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Farmington Hills, MI: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,475 in Farmington Hills, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Farmington Hills, MI pays 11% 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: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $60.0 in Farmington Hills, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $373 per month, with Farmington Hills, MI 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 Farmington Hills, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Farmington Hills, MI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 11% lower in Farmington Hills, MI. 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,475 in Farmington Hills, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,769 in Farmington Hills, MI – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 50% less than in Farmington Hills, MI. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,769 in Farmington Hills, MI, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Austin, TX but tight or insufficient in Farmington Hills, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Austin, TX 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Farmington Hills, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.