Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Gilbert, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Gilbert, AZ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,782 in Gilbert, AZ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,983 in Gilbert, AZ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $5,183 in Gilbert, AZ.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 3% less than in Gilbert, AZ, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Gilbert, AZ 108% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$18.64 $18.64

5.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$75.2 $75.2

1.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.10 $10.10

-2.38%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.96 $4.96

10.48%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.88 $2.88

-7.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.18 $2.18

-4.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$6.14 $6.14

-0.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$6.81 $6.81

19.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.84 $0.84

30.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.49 $3.49

-2.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$5.23 $5.23

-35.37%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.82 $3.82

14.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$11.48 $11.48

5.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$10.52 $10.52

3.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$12.59 $12.59

16.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.91 $4.91

1.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.88 $1.88

-19.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$3.89 $3.89

13.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.05 $4.05

1.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.43 $2.43

15.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.33 $1.33

115.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.98 $1.98

-1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.45 $1.45

50.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$9.02 $9.02

-0.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$13.32 $13.32

13.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.07 $2.07

12.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.45 $2.45

40.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.98 $1.98

-22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$64.2 $64.2

-31.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.80 $2.80

57.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.34 $1.34

36.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$35.48 $35.48

-2.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.95 $0.95

-17.89%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$31.2K $31.2K

-16.82%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.20%

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

$175 $175

$199 $199

-12.27%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$69.1 $69.1

-13.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$80.2 $80.2

-18.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$31.52 $31.52

94.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$10.12 $10.12

45.85%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$622 $622

120.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$15.4K $15.4K

44.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$51.7 $51.7

9.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$44.38 $44.38

2.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$82.7 $82.7

2.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$132 $132

-10.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,879 $1,879

17.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,555 $1,555

-9.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,871 $2,871

32.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,360 $2,360

13.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$5,483 $5,483

30.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$4,664 $4,664

-34.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$5,380 $5,380

-5.01%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Gilbert, AZ: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,879 in Gilbert, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gilbert, AZ pays 5% 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: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $75.0 in Gilbert, AZ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $353 per month, with Gilbert, AZ 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 Gilbert, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Gilbert, AZ. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Gilbert, AZ. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,879 in Gilbert, AZ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,782 in Gilbert, AZ – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 45% less than in Gilbert, AZ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Gilbert, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.