Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fayetteville, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fayetteville, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,732 in Austin, TX versus $2,148 in Fayetteville, AR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,139 in Austin, TX versus $3,338 in Fayetteville, AR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,545 in Austin, TX versus $4,528 in Fayetteville, AR.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 27% more expensive than in Fayetteville, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 105% above, Fayetteville, AR 61% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$16.47 $16.47

18.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$60.7 $60.7

24.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 $9.89

$8.98 $8.98

10.13%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.94 $4.94

11.13%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$2.08 $2.08

29.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.36 $1.36

56.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$5.08 $5.08

16.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.17 $6.17

27.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.90 $0.90

27.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.38 $3.38

-1.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.11 $3.11

11.90%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$2.92 $2.92

51.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.79 $11.79

$8.08 $8.08

45.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 $10.65

$8.37 $8.37

27.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.61 $13.61

8.74%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.55 $4.55

5.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.42 $1.42

10.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.67 $2.67

63.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$3.88 $3.88

3.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.91 $1.91

41.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.41 $2.41

17.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.53 $1.53

32.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.00 $2.00

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.78 $8.78

$8.72 $8.72

0.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.03 $15.03

$14.71 $14.71

2.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.73 $1.73

31.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.16 $2.16

60.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.98 $1.98

-22.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.99 $43.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.30 $4.30

$2.43 $2.43

76.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.24 $1.24

46.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$24.28 $24.28

45.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.80 $0.80

-8.75%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$23.7K $23.7K

9.19%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.3K $26.3K

0.89%

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

$172 $172

$176 $176

-1.92%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$52.7 $52.7

10.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 $66.1

$63.4 $63.4

4.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 $63.6

$71.3 $71.3

-10.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.15 $10.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$12.56 $12.56

19.82%

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

$1,399 $1,399

$1,051 $1,051

33.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$18.6K $18.6K

18.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$54.0 $54.0

4.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.66 $46.66

$41.67 $41.67

11.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 $86.4

$99.8 $99.8

-13.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$116 $116

2.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$1,562 $1,562

42.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,399 $1,399

$1,014 $1,014

37.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,821 $3,821

$2,778 $2,778

37.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$2,070 $2,070

27.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,237 $7,237

$2,648 $2,648

173.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,127 $3,127

$2,263 $2,263

38.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,009 $5,009

$3,520 $3,520

42.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.58

-1.98%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 26, 2026

Last update for Fayetteville, AR: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,228 in Austin, TX and $1,562 in Fayetteville, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 42% 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $61.0 in Fayetteville, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $378 vs $318 per month, with Fayetteville, AR 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 Fayetteville, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville, AR wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fayetteville, AR the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 42% 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: $2,228 in Austin, TX versus $1,562 in Fayetteville, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,399 in Austin, TX versus $1,051 in Fayetteville, AR. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Fayetteville, AR – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Fayetteville, AR 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Fayetteville, AR 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 Fayetteville, AR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.