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: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,461 in Fort Scott, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,482 in Fort Scott, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,502 in Fort Scott, KS.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 8% more expensive than Fort Scott, KS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Fort Scott, KS 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$15.17 $15.17

29.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$51.0 $51.0

47.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$8.25 $8.25

20.24%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.33 $4.33

30.95%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.27 $2.27

22.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.95 $1.95

11.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$4.08 $4.08

43.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.17 $6.17

25.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.01 $1.01

7.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.93 $2.93

16.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.01 $2.01

70.65%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.27 $3.27

34.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$9.46 $9.46

26.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$9.03 $9.03

19.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$14.31 $14.31

-0.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.54 $4.54

6.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.22 $1.22

27.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.12 $3.12

42.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.93 $3.93

-0.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.63 $1.63

68.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.47 $2.47

10.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.91 $1.91

6.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.98 $1.98

13.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$7.11 $7.11

25.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$18.72 $18.72

-20.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.65 $1.65

42.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.50 $3.50

2.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.02 $2.02

-27.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.94 $2.94

45.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.21 $1.21

52.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$36.44 $36.44

-2.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.78 $0.78

-7.69%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.9K $29.9K

-14.00%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.94%

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

$174 $174

$229 $229

-24.33%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$68.7 $68.7

-12.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$74.1 $74.1

-10.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.22 $42.22

48.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$8.11 $8.11

87.92%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$762 $762

82.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.5K $23.5K

-5.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$51.5 $51.5

10.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$32.92 $32.92

37.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$70.3 $70.3

22.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$102 $102

16.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,607 $1,607

39.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,366 $1,366

4.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,632 $2,632

43.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,202 $2,202

19.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,675 $2,675

163.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,597 $2,597

21.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.65

-3.01%

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 Scott, KS: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,607 in Fort Scott, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $51.0 in Fort Scott, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $333 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 8% 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 $3,989 in Austin, TX and $3,691 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,607 in Fort Scott, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $762 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 $51.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,461 in Fort Scott, KS versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Fort Scott, KS but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Fort Scott, KS 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.

Expats usually find Fort Scott, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.