Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Hailey, ID Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Hailey, ID

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,456 in Hailey, ID.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $4,175 in Hailey, ID.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $5,895 in Hailey, ID.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 11% more expensive than Hailey, ID, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Hailey, ID 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$20.38 $20.38

-1.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$64.1 $64.1

18.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$11.06 $11.06

-8.41%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.71 $4.71

16.56%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.62 $2.62

3.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.21 $2.21

-3.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$6.02 $6.02

0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$6.13 $6.13

31.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.86 $0.86

26.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.53 $3.53

-5.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$5.39 $5.39

-36.55%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.02 $3.02

43.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$12.70 $12.70

-7.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$8.70 $8.70

22.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$12.97 $12.97

11.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.99 $4.99

-4.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.62 $1.62

-7.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.61 $3.61

24.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.74 $4.74

-14.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.23 $2.23

23.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.19 $2.19

27.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.47 $1.47

38.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.16 $2.16

-0.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$8.39 $8.39

10.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.39 $15.39

-3.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.85 $1.85

23.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.62 $2.62

34.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.97 $1.97

-22.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.61 $2.61

64.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.53 $1.53

18.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$24.23 $24.23

46.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.95 $0.95

-18.95%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$33.9K $33.9K

-24.35%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.88%

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

$172 $172

$138 $138

25.16%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$49.71 $49.71

21.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$72.1 $72.1

-6.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.54 $43.54

44.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

$25.50 $25.50

-61.37%

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$9.02 $9.02

63.30%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,238 $1,238

12.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.5K $23.5K

-7.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$58.1 $58.1

-5.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$34.45 $34.45

32.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$88.8 $88.8

-2.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$97.6 $97.6

18.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$2,008 $2,008

11.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,343 $1,343

4.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$3,813 $3,813

-0.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$3,298 $3,298

-17.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,647 $2,647

175.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,390 $2,390

39.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$3,434 $3,434

42.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.58

-1.98%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Hailey, ID: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $2,008 in Hailey, ID. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 43% 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 in Austin, TX vs $64 in Hailey, ID for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $359 per month, with Hailey, ID 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 Hailey, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hailey, ID wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hailey, ID the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 43% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $2,008 in Hailey, ID. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,238 in Hailey, ID. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Hailey, ID – a meal for two runs $64.0 versus $76.0 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. Hailey, ID 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 Hailey, ID gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.