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: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $2,541 in Farmington Hills, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $3,817 in Farmington Hills, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $5,094 in Farmington Hills, MI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 4% more expensive than in Farmington Hills, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Farmington Hills, MI 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$20.32 $20.32

-2.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$60.3 $60.3

39.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$10.40 $10.40

17.98%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.10 $5.10

10.39%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$2.12 $2.12

69.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.95 $1.95

22.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.12 $5.12

52.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$6.01 $6.01

51.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.72 $0.72

58.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$2.15 $2.15

69.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.61 $4.61

-28.20%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$2.83 $2.83

56.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$9.61 $9.61

35.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$11.61 $11.61

26.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$13.29 $13.29

31.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$5.35 $5.35

-13.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.06 $1.06

36.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$6.81 $6.81

-30.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$5.87 $5.87

-15.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$6.67 $6.67

-54.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.67 $4.67

-41.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.93 $1.93

1.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.52 $1.52

44.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$8.98 $8.98

3.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$12.82 $12.82

16.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.02 $2.02

42.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.56 $2.56

40.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$3.07 $3.07

-46.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

$66.2 $66.2

-36.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$5.29 $5.29

-46.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.54 $1.54

3.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$48.66 $48.66

-28.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$35.3K $35.3K

1.12%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$24.9K $24.9K

7.89%

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

$229 $229

$117 $117

95.10%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$36.75 $36.75

59.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$61.7 $61.7

12.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$76.2 $76.2

-13.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

$35.64 $35.64

-58.61%

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$9.48 $9.48

46.20%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$1,618 $1,618

-7.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$16.7K $16.7K

25.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$57.6 $57.6

-6.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$21.61 $21.61

105.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$45.55 $45.55

99.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$148 $148

-26.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,543 $1,543

25.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,292 $1,292

-2.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$2,726 $2,726

38.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$2,341 $2,341

10.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$2,968 $2,968

147.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$1,708 $1,708

89.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$5,195 $5,195

-3.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.04

6.62%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Farmington Hills, MI: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $1,543 in Farmington Hills, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Farmington Hills, MI pays 3% 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 $60.0 in Farmington Hills, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $371 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

Farmington Hills, MI wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Farmington Hills, MI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 3% 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: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $1,543 in Farmington Hills, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,646 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,541 in Farmington Hills, MI – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Farmington Hills, MI runs roughly 58% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Farmington Hills, MI is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Farmington Hills, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.