Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Houghton, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Houghton, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,707 in Austin, TX versus $2,494 in Houghton, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,158 in Austin, TX versus $3,605 in Houghton, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,608 in Austin, TX versus $4,716 in Houghton, MI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 9% more expensive than Houghton, MI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 101% above, Houghton, MI 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.50 $19.50

$12.77 $12.77

52.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.3 $75.3

$39.89 $39.89

88.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 $9.88

$10.17 $10.17

-2.85%

Cappuccino

$5.74 $5.74

$4.08 $4.08

40.69%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.73 $2.73

1.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.56 $1.56

36.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$5.96 $5.96

2.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 $7.86

$6.88 $6.88

14.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.60 $3.60

-4.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.48 $4.48

-26.12%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$4.07 $4.07

5.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.98 $11.98

$12.41 $12.41

-3.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.74 $10.74

$11.49 $11.49

-6.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$15.28 $15.28

-3.21%

Apples (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$5.04 $5.04

-0.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.56 $1.56

-4.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$4.36 $4.36

1.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.82 $4.82

-18.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.76 $2.76

-0.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.80 $2.80

-2.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.03 $2.03

0.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.18 $2.18

3.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.09 $9.09

$9.32 $9.32

-2.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$15.07 $15.07

-0.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.78 $1.78

32.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.42 $3.42

3.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.96 $1.96

-23.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.05 $44.05

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 $4.47

$3.49 $3.49

28.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.59 $1.59

10.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.44 $34.44

$28.62 $28.62

20.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.84 $0.84

-11.90%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$30.1K $30.1K

-14.81%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.1K $26.1K

2.37%

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

$172 $172

$186 $186

-7.31%

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

$59.3 $59.3

$53.5 $53.5

10.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$66.7 $66.7

-0.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.1 $63.1

$42.63 $42.63

47.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$15.28 $15.28

$13.27 $13.27

15.15%

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

$1,406 $1,406

$1,322 $1,322

6.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$23.2K $23.2K

-5.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$51.8 $51.8

9.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.72 $45.72

$40.51 $40.51

12.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$87.0 $87.0

-1.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$110 $110

6.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,196 $2,196

$1,612 $1,612

36.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 $1,434

$1,340 $1,340

7.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,878 $3,878

$2,600 $2,600

49.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,610 $2,610

$2,266 $2,266

15.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,228 $7,228

$1,552 $1,552

365.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,282 $3,282

$1,586 $1,586

106.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,984 $4,984

$2,606 $2,606

91.30%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Houghton, MI: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,196 in Austin, TX and $1,612 in Houghton, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 91% 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: $75 in Austin, TX vs $40 in Houghton, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $392, 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 Houghton, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Houghton, MI wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Houghton, MI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 91% 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: $2,196 in Austin, TX versus $1,612 in Houghton, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,406 in Austin, TX versus $1,322 in Houghton, MI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Houghton, MI – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Houghton, MI 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 Houghton, MI 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 Houghton, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.