Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Hillsboro, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Hillsboro, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,715 in Austin, TX versus $2,930 in Hillsboro, OR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Austin, TX versus $3,941 in Hillsboro, OR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,596 in Austin, TX versus $4,953 in Hillsboro, OR.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 7% less than in Hillsboro, OR, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Hillsboro, OR 114% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$22.77 $22.77

-13.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$58.9 $58.9

43.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$8.18 $8.18

50.37%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$4.80 $4.80

13.54%

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

$3.62 $3.62

$2.71 $2.71

33.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.09 $2.09

15.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$4.96 $4.96

59.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$5.98 $5.98

48.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.01 $1.01

5.94%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.65 $3.65

0.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.40 $5.40

-38.15%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$3.67 $3.67

16.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$9.92 $9.92

31.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$13.98 $13.98

1.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$19.59 $19.59

-14.85%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.69 $3.69

21.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.69 $1.69

-15.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.95 $3.95

16.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$3.45 $3.45

35.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.14 $2.14

26.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.20 $2.20

17.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.91 $1.91

-1.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.92 $1.92

14.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$10.13 $10.13

-0.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$13.39 $13.39

12.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.69 $1.69

72.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.48 $3.48

-5.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.82 $2.82

-45.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

$101 $101

-58.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$4.89 $4.89

-44.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.35 $1.35

22.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$30.43 $30.43

15.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.17 $1.17

-23.93%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$18.3K $18.3K

98.69%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$22.4K $22.4K

20.86%

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

$223 $223

$147 $147

52.06%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$40.03 $40.03

43.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$48.22 $48.22

41.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$51.7 $51.7

26.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

$12.16 $12.16

20.15%

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$14.23 $14.23

-1.97%

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

$1,523 $1,523

$1,218 $1,218

24.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$12.4K $12.4K

72.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$37.71 $37.71

40.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$39.09 $39.09

9.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$93.9 $93.9

-9.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$86.1 $86.1

19.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$1,887 $1,887

3.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$1,654 $1,654

-23.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$2,850 $2,850

32.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$2,104 $2,104

21.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$3,393 $3,393

111.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$3,325 $3,325

-5.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$4,741 $4,741

4.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.07

6.59%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Hillsboro, OR: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,948 in Austin, TX and $1,887 in Hillsboro, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $59.0 in Hillsboro, OR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $387 per month, with Hillsboro, OR 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 Hillsboro, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Hillsboro, OR. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 4% 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: $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $1,887 in Hillsboro, OR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,715 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,930 in Hillsboro, OR – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 143% less than in Hillsboro, OR. 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 8% less than in Hillsboro, OR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.