Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fort Scott, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fort Scott, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,443 in Fort Scott, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,019 in Fort Scott, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $3,595 in Fort Scott, KS.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 10% more expensive than in Fort Scott, KS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Fort Scott, KS 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$16.70 $16.70

18.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$78.9 $78.9

6.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$9.32 $9.32

31.97%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.69 $5.69

-3.69%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.25 $2.25

65.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.70 $1.70

38.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.17 $6.17

25.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.81 $6.81

34.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.91 $0.91

24.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.01 $4.01

-6.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.93 $5.93

-42.16%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$5.40 $5.40

-19.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$8.32 $8.32

57.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$8.44 $8.44

70.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$13.44 $13.44

27.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.52 $4.52

-0.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.52 $1.52

-5.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.69 $2.69

73.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.89 $4.89

1.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.95 $1.95

53.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.49 $2.49

8.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.46 $1.46

26.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.95 $1.95

11.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$8.98 $8.98

5.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$18.65 $18.65

-18.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.52 $2.52

14.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.59 $4.59

-23.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.99 $1.99

-17.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.72 $2.72

3.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.99 $1.99

-20.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$29.54 $29.54

19.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.94 $0.94

-4.26%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$36.4K $36.4K

-1.50%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.6K $25.6K

8.00%

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

$222 $222

$175 $175

26.91%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$55.5 $55.5

4.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$62.7 $62.7

10.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$36.87 $36.87

79.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$10.06 $10.06

36.98%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,065 $1,065

43.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

-16.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$60.7 $60.7

-10.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$49.06 $49.06

-10.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$110 $110

-18.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$103 $103

5.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,570 $1,570

23.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,271 $1,271

-0.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,513 $2,513

49.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$871 $871

197.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,911 $2,911

154.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,590 $2,590

23.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.11

5.40%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Fort Scott, KS: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,570 in Fort Scott, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $79.0 in Fort Scott, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $368 per month, with Fort Scott, KS 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 Scott, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Scott, KS 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 Scott, KS the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,042 in Austin, TX and $3,664 in Fort Scott, KS 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,570 in Fort Scott, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,065 in Fort Scott, KS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Fort Scott, KS – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $84.0 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 Scott, KS 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.

Expats usually find Fort Scott, KS 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.