Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fond du Lac, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fond du Lac, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,707 in Austin, TX versus $2,404 in Fond du Lac, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,158 in Austin, TX versus $3,529 in Fond du Lac, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,608 in Austin, TX versus $4,654 in Fond du Lac, WI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 13% more expensive than Fond du Lac, WI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 101% above, Fond du Lac, WI 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.50 $19.50

$12.99 $12.99

50.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.3 $75.3

$68.8 $68.8

9.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 $9.88

$8.09 $8.09

22.13%

Cappuccino

$5.74 $5.74

$4.11 $4.11

39.66%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.91 $2.91

-4.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.37 $2.37

-10.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$4.02 $4.02

51.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 $7.86

$5.56 $5.56

41.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.82 $0.82

32.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.75 $2.75

25.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.26 $3.26

1.53%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$3.11 $3.11

37.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.98 $11.98

$16.39 $16.39

-26.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.74 $10.74

$11.44 $11.44

-6.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$11.47 $11.47

28.95%

Apples (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$4.51 $4.51

10.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.65 $1.65

-9.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$3.03 $3.03

46.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$6.10 $6.10

-35.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$4.69 $4.69

-41.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.50 $2.50

9.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.97 $0.97

110.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.77 $1.77

27.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.09 $9.09

$10.79 $10.79

-15.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$8.44 $8.44

77.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.69 $1.69

39.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.29 $3.29

7.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.98 $1.98

-24.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.05 $44.05

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 $4.47

$3.48 $3.48

28.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.36 $1.36

29.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.44 $34.44

$20.19 $20.19

70.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.87 $0.87

-14.94%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$24.7K $24.7K

3.65%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

3.09%

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

$172 $172

$102 $102

68.91%

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

$59.3 $59.3

$37.26 $37.26

59.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$50.7 $50.7

31.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.1 $63.1

$43.64 $43.64

44.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$15.28 $15.28

$11.14 $11.14

37.16%

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

$1,406 $1,406

$1,346 $1,346

4.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$23.4K $23.4K

-6.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$44.74 $44.74

26.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.72 $45.72

$46.94 $46.94

-2.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$67.9 $67.9

26.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$223 $223

-47.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,196 $2,196

$1,600 $1,600

37.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 $1,434

$1,367 $1,367

4.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,878 $3,878

$2,660 $2,660

45.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,610 $2,610

$2,211 $2,211

18.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,228 $7,228

$1,777 $1,777

306.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,282 $3,282

$1,815 $1,815

80.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,984 $4,984

$2,980 $2,980

67.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.52

-1.07%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 13, 2026

Last update for Fond du Lac, WI: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,196 in Austin, TX and $1,600 in Fond du Lac, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 67% 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 in Austin, TX vs $69 in Fond du Lac, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $353 per month, with Fond du Lac, WI 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 Fond du Lac, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fond du Lac, WI wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fond du Lac, WI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 67% 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: $2,196 in Austin, TX versus $1,600 in Fond du Lac, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,406 in Austin, TX versus $1,346 in Fond du Lac, WI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Fond du Lac, WI – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,404 in Fond du Lac, WI versus $2,707 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Fond du Lac, WI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Fond du Lac, WI 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 Fond du Lac, WI 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 Fond du Lac, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.