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: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,186 in Fayetteville, AR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,104 in Austin, TX versus $3,372 in Fayetteville, AR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,490 in Austin, TX versus $4,559 in Fayetteville, AR.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 24% more expensive than Fayetteville, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Fayetteville, AR 63% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.36 $19.36

$16.19 $16.19

19.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.7 $73.7

$59.8 $59.8

23.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

$9.10 $9.10

11.98%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.85 $4.85

17.73%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.19 $2.19

21.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.36 $1.36

61.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$4.99 $4.99

18.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.06 $6.06

33.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.96 $0.96

13.54%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.48 $3.48

-2.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.11 $3.11

7.40%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$2.93 $2.93

51.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.87 $11.87

$8.35 $8.35

42.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$8.62 $8.62

25.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$13.32 $13.32

7.13%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$4.57 $4.57

5.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.39 $1.39

10.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$2.64 $2.64

72.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.99 $3.99

-0.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.89 $1.89

51.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.52 $2.52

10.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.46 $1.46

33.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.94 $1.94

14.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.07 $9.07

$8.41 $8.41

7.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$15.29 $15.29

-2.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.63 $1.63

40.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.18 $2.18

55.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.01 $2.01

-25.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.63 $42.63

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.44 $2.44

77.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.28 $1.28

39.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.51 $34.51

$24.15 $24.15

42.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$0.79 $0.79

-5.06%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$23.9K $23.9K

5.62%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.7K $25.7K

3.58%

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

$176 $176

$174 $174

0.76%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$52.6 $52.6

13.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$62.9 $62.9

6.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.4 $62.4

$71.0 $71.0

-12.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.96 $9.96

Cinema Ticket

$15.04 $15.04

$12.70 $12.70

18.43%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,045 $1,045

32.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$18.6K $18.6K

20.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$53.2 $53.2

5.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 $46.71

$42.05 $42.05

11.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$102 $102

-15.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$113 $113

5.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,174 $2,174

$1,530 $1,530

42.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 $1,439

$1,038 $1,038

38.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,754 $3,754

$2,800 $2,800

34.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 $2,698

$2,106 $2,106

28.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,033 $7,033

$2,619 $2,619

168.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,113 $3,113

$2,188 $2,188

42.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,081 $5,081

$3,593 $3,593

41.42%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Fayetteville, AR: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,174 in Austin, TX and $1,530 in Fayetteville, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 41% 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 $60.0 in Fayetteville, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $321 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 24% 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.

Austin, TX pays 41% more on average, 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: $2,174 in Austin, TX versus $1,530 in Fayetteville, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,045 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 $60.0 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,186 in Fayetteville, AR versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Fayetteville, AR but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Fayetteville, AR 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.

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 24% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.