Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Harrisburg, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Harrisburg, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,631 in Harrisburg, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,737 in Harrisburg, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $4,844 in Harrisburg, PA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 3% more expensive than in Harrisburg, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Harrisburg, PA 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$15.06 $15.06

32.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$65.8 $65.8

13.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$11.94 $11.94

-17.50%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.23 $5.23

10.71%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$3.06 $3.06

-10.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.26 $2.26

-3.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.91 $5.91

1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$7.97 $7.97

1.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.14 $1.14

-3.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.96 $3.96

-17.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.97 $3.97

-15.11%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.29 $4.29

0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$14.93 $14.93

-19.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$14.30 $14.30

-26.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$18.95 $18.95

-23.01%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$5.79 $5.79

-12.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.00 $2.00

-21.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.31 $5.31

-17.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$6.58 $6.58

-38.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.42 $3.42

-19.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.81 $3.81

-25.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.28 $2.28

-14.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.44 $2.44

-8.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$9.02 $9.02

-2.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.62 $2.62

-10.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.46 $4.46

-22.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.52 $2.52

-39.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

$50.9 $50.9

-16.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$4.09 $4.09

5.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.92 $1.92

-6.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$30.17 $30.17

16.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.91 $0.91

-12.09%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.6K $26.6K

-3.07%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.3K $25.3K

6.26%

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

$173 $173

$160 $160

8.63%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$59.4 $59.4

-1.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$67.3 $67.3

-0.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$27.10 $27.10

128.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

$19.94 $19.94

-50.60%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$10.94 $10.94

35.28%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,111 $1,111

27.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$20.9K $20.9K

5.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$39.71 $39.71

38.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$32.74 $32.74

42.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$77.9 $77.9

12.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$82.0 $82.0

45.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,536 $1,536

43.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,391 $1,391

2.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$1,968 $1,968

91.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,060 $2,060

31.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$1,841 $1,841

298.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$1,847 $1,847

69.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$4,233 $4,233

20.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.44

0.16%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Harrisburg, PA: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,536 in Harrisburg, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 20% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $66.0 in Harrisburg, PA. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $460, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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 Harrisburg, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 20% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,536 in Harrisburg, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,701 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,631 in Harrisburg, PA – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Harrisburg, PA runs roughly 19% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,631 in Harrisburg, PA versus $2,701 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Harrisburg, PA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Harrisburg, PA 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Harrisburg, PA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Harrisburg, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.