Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fort Atkinson, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fort Atkinson, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,417 in Fort Atkinson, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,495 in Fort Atkinson, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,573 in Fort Atkinson, WI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 10% more expensive than Fort Atkinson, WI, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Fort Atkinson, WI 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$15.07 $15.07

30.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$88.2 $88.2

-14.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$11.61 $11.61

-14.56%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.36 $5.36

5.78%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.97 $2.97

-6.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.38 $2.38

-8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.15 $6.15

-5.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$8.68 $8.68

-10.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.76 $0.76

43.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.18 $2.18

56.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.24 $3.24

5.86%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.12 $4.12

6.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$7.90 $7.90

51.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$11.13 $11.13

-3.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$11.23 $11.23

27.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$5.77 $5.77

-16.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.72 $1.72

-9.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.98 $2.98

49.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.60 $3.60

8.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.23 $1.23

122.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.45 $2.45

11.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.03 $2.03

0.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.99 $1.99

13.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$11.43 $11.43

-21.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$8.38 $8.38

77.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.28 $3.28

8.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.97 $1.97

-25.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.49 $3.49

22.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.41 $1.41

30.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$28.70 $28.70

23.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.76 $0.76

-5.26%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$35.2K $35.2K

-26.85%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.29%

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

$174 $174

$172 $172

1.04%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$50.9 $50.9

18.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$50.5 $50.5

31.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.64 $43.64

43.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$8.12 $8.12

87.68%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,179 $1,179

17.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

-6.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$19.83 $19.83

186.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$14.78 $14.78

206.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$45.71 $45.71

89.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$65.3 $65.3

82.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,621 $1,621

38.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,346 $1,346

6.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,581 $2,581

46.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,203 $2,203

19.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,696 $2,696

161.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,339 $2,339

35.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Fort Atkinson, WI: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,621 in Fort Atkinson, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $88.0 in Fort Atkinson, WI. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $314, with Fort Atkinson, WI cheaper for home cooking.

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 Fort Atkinson, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Atkinson, WI wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fort Atkinson, WI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $3,989 in Austin, TX and $3,625 in Fort Atkinson, WI to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,621 in Fort Atkinson, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,179 in Fort Atkinson, WI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Fort Atkinson, WI – a meal for two runs $88.0 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 $2,000. Fort Atkinson, WI 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 Fort Atkinson, 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 Fort Atkinson, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.