Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Hoffman Estates, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Hoffman Estates, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,580 in Hoffman Estates, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,719 in Hoffman Estates, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,858 in Hoffman Estates, IL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 5% more expensive than Hoffman Estates, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Hoffman Estates, IL 93% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$18.83 $18.83

6.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$75.9 $75.9

0.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$11.20 $11.20

-9.55%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.05 $5.05

8.71%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.58 $2.58

5.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.02 $2.02

5.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$6.11 $6.11

-0.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$7.04 $7.04

14.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.04 $1.04

4.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.48 $3.48

-4.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.24 $4.24

-19.34%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$12.04 $12.04

-1.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.45 $11.45

-6.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$15.30 $15.30

-5.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.94 $4.94

-3.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.58 $1.58

-5.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.24 $4.24

6.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.70 $4.70

-14.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.86 $2.86

-3.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.86 $2.86

-2.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.03 $2.03

0.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.20 $2.20

-2.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$9.35 $9.35

-1.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.18 $15.18

-2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.82 $1.82

25.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.34 $3.34

5.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.05 $2.05

-25.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.46 $3.46

23.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.60 $1.60

13.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$29.54 $29.54

20.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.86 $0.86

-10.47%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$29.2K $29.2K

-12.33%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.99%

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

$172 $172

$189 $189

-8.71%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$52.5 $52.5

14.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$67.3 $67.3

-0.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.39 $42.39

48.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$13.70 $13.70

7.52%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,317 $1,317

6.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.9K $23.9K

-8.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$51.8 $51.8

6.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$40.49 $40.49

12.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$85.9 $85.9

0.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$112 $112

3.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,574 $1,574

42.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,373 $1,373

2.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,597 $2,597

45.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,224 $2,224

21.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,391 $2,391

205.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,397 $2,397

38.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$2,361 $2,361

107.97%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Hoffman Estates, IL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,574 in Hoffman Estates, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 108% 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 $76 in Hoffman Estates, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $388 per month, with Austin, TX 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 Hoffman Estates, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hoffman Estates, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hoffman Estates, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 108% 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 $1,574 in Hoffman Estates, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,317 in Hoffman Estates, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Hoffman Estates, IL – a meal for two runs $76.0 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. Hoffman Estates, IL 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Hoffman Estates, IL 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 Hoffman Estates, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.