Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fort Madison, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fort Madison, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,540 in Fort Madison, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,783 in Fort Madison, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $5,026 in Fort Madison, IA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 6% more expensive than in Fort Madison, IA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Fort Madison, IA 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$19.32 $19.32

3.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$74.1 $74.1

0.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$11.07 $11.07

-11.02%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.04 $5.04

14.88%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.53 $2.53

8.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.05 $2.05

5.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$6.04 $6.04

-0.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$6.96 $6.96

16.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.04 $1.04

5.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.48 $3.48

-5.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$4.26 $4.26

-20.89%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.17 $4.17

3.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$12.44 $12.44

-3.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$11.38 $11.38

-7.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$15.32 $15.32

-4.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.97 $4.97

1.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.63 $1.63

-3.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.31 $4.31

1.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.60 $4.60

-11.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.87 $2.87

-3.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.76 $2.76

2.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.09 $2.09

-6.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.09 $2.09

6.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$9.86 $9.86

-11.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.84 $14.84

-0.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.83 $1.83

27.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.45 $3.45

0.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.06 $2.06

-26.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.40 $3.40

26.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.59 $1.59

13.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$29.11 $29.11

21.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.88 $0.88

-9.09%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.3K $29.3K

-12.23%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.3K $25.3K

6.15%

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

$173 $173

$191 $191

-9.29%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$52.6 $52.6

11.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$68.2 $68.2

-1.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$42.68 $42.68

44.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.61 $13.61

8.74%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,316 $1,316

7.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$23.6K $23.6K

-6.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$51.8 $51.8

5.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$40.66 $40.66

14.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$85.6 $85.6

2.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$113 $113

5.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,625 $1,625

35.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,343 $1,343

6.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,627 $2,627

43.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,259 $2,259

19.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$2,915 $2,915

151.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,136 $2,136

47.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Fort Madison, IA: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,625 in Fort Madison, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $74.0 in Fort Madison, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $387 per month, with Austin, TX 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 Fort Madison, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Madison, IA wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fort Madison, IA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,052 in Austin, TX and $3,809 in Fort Madison, IA 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,625 in Fort Madison, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $1,316 in Fort Madison, IA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Fort Madison, IA – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $74.0 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. Fort Madison, IA 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 Madison, IA 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 Madison, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.