Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Groningen

For one person, living is cheaper in Groningen: $2,285 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Groningen
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,285
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Groningen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Groningen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $2,285 in Groningen.

  • Austin, TX $2,704
  • Groningen $2,285

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $3,459 in Groningen.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Groningen $3,459

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in Austin, TX versus $4,632 in Groningen.

  • Austin, TX $5,562
  • Groningen $4,632

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 18% more expensive than in Groningen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Groningen 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Groningen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$20.40 €18.20
-0.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.0 $85.0
$102 €90.9
-16.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.35 $12.35
$16.01 €14.29
-22.86%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$4.57 €4.08
19.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$3.77 €3.37
1.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$3.14 €2.80
-20.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.06 $8.06
$5.67 €5.06
42.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.99 $8.99
$5.65 €5.04
59.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Groningen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.42 €1.27
-20.42%
White Bread (500g)
$3.78 $3.78
$2.57 €2.29
47.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.54 €2.27
27.95%
Eggs
$4.14 $4.14
$4.64 €4.14
-10.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.08 $13.08
$12.50 €11.16
4.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.31 $14.31
$13.48 €12.03
6.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.96 $15.96
$18.02 €16.08
-11.43%
Apples (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$3.02 €2.70
45.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$2.39 €2.13
-39.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$2.53 €2.26
79.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$4.72 €4.21
-11.23%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.04 €1.82
28.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.64 €1.47
43.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.26 €1.13
39.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.28 €1.14
68.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.81 $9.81
$14.70 €13.12
-33.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$6.59 €5.88
123.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.45 €1.30
91.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$2.46 €2.20
41.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Groningen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$4.19 €3.74
-64.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.51 $40.51
$68.2 €60.9
-40.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$6.81 €6.08
-60.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$2.76 €2.47
-42.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.29 $35.29
$29.10 €25.97
21.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$2.62 €2.33
-62.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$41.4K €37.0K
-13.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$38.8K €34.6K
-29.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Groningen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$234 €209
-6.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.0 $58.0
$20.80 €18.56
178.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$50.0 €44.63
36.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Groningen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.9 $57.9
$39.57 €35.31
46.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.82 $14.82
$14.76 €13.18
0.41%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13 $14.13
$16.89 €15.07
-16.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Groningen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,509 $1,509
$1,799 €1,606
-16.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$7,677 €6,851
179.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Groningen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 $51.7
$105 €93.8
-50.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.05 $44.05
$44.38 €39.60
-0.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 $85.1
$103 €92.3
-17.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$197 €176
-46.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Groningen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,932 $1,932
$1,310 €1,169
47.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 $1,272
$925 €825
37.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,670 $3,670
$1,972 €1,760
86.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,525 $2,525
$1,458 €1,302
73.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,617 $7,617
$5,263 €4,697
44.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,199 $3,199
$3,970 €3,543
-19.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Groningen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,105 $5,105
$3,025 €2,700
68.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
3.43
97.96%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for Groningen: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Groningen
$925 27.3% $348
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$403
Groningen
$346 14.1% $57
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$348
Groningen
$333 4.2% $15
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$346
Groningen
$304 11.9% $41
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Groningen
$203 57.4% $74
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Groningen
$73 14.9% $13
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$57
Groningen
$106 85.2% $49

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,932 in Austin, TX and $1,310 in Groningen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 69% 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $102 in Groningen. Groceries flip the comparison at $403 vs $346, with Groningen cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇳🇱 Groningen
🕒 Local time
00:11 12:11 AM
07:11 7:11 AM
7 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
201,242
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Groningen 8,230 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Groningen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Groningen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Groningen?
Groningen wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Groningen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Groningen?
Average pay runs 69% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Groningen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,932 in Austin, TX versus $1,310 in Groningen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Groningen?
All in, you'll spend $2,704 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,285 in Groningen – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Groningen?
A monthly transit pass in Groningen runs roughly 68% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Groningen?
At $2,285 in Groningen versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Groningen but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Groningen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Austin, TX or Groningen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Groningen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,285 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Groningen hard to pass up.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Groningen?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Groningen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Groningen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

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