Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Houma, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Houma, LA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,348 in Houma, LA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,412 in Houma, LA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,476 in Houma, LA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 15% more expensive than in Houma, LA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Houma, LA 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$14.84 $14.84

32.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$50.6 $50.6

50.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.08 $10.08

-2.18%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.57 $5.57

-1.62%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.01 $2.01

31.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.94 $1.94

7.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$3.08 $3.08

97.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$4.82 $4.82

69.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.12 $1.12

-1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.95 $2.95

14.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$2.37 $2.37

42.62%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$1.71 $1.71

156.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$10.24 $10.24

18.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$11.08 $11.08

-2.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$15.03 $15.03

-2.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.43 $5.43

-8.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.27 $1.27

18.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$5.07 $5.07

-13.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.94 $3.94

4.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.18 $2.18

28.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.67 $2.67

7.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.06 $2.06

-5.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.86 $1.86

17.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$8.96 $8.96

0.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$13.18 $13.18

14.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.91 $1.91

21.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.86 $2.86

19.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.02 $2.02

-23.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.06 $4.06

8.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.25 $1.25

46.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$61.0 $61.0

-43.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$37.0K $37.0K

-29.91%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$24.8K $24.8K

4.36%

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

$175 $175

$136 $136

28.88%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$43.65 $43.65

36.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$46.73 $46.73

40.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$27.07 $27.07

126.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$12.16 $12.16

21.38%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,279 $1,279

7.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$10.0K $10.0K

121.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$36.29 $36.29

55.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$42.80 $42.80

5.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$71.5 $71.5

18.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$78.1 $78.1

51.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,055 $1,055

108.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,376 $1,376

1.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,640 $2,640

44.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,224 $2,224

20.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$1,450 $1,450

392.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$1,477 $1,477

108.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$3,745 $3,745

36.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.61

-2.42%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Houma, LA: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,055 in Houma, LA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 36% 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: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $51.0 in Houma, LA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $347 per month, with Houma, LA 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 Houma, LA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Houma, LA wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Houma, LA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 36% 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,055 in Houma, LA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,372 in Austin, TX versus $1,279 in Houma, LA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Houma, LA – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,348 in Houma, LA versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Houma, LA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Houma, LA 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 Houma, LA 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 Houma, LA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.