Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Houston, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Houston, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,707 in Austin, TX versus $2,615 in Houston, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,158 in Austin, TX versus $3,989 in Houston, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,608 in Austin, TX versus $5,363 in Houston, TX.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 4% more expensive than Houston, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 101% above, Houston, TX 94% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.50 $19.50

$19.79 $19.79

-1.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.3 $75.3

$81.0 $81.0

-6.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 $9.88

$10.09 $10.09

-2.08%

Cappuccino

$5.74 $5.74

$5.54 $5.54

3.61%

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

$2.14 $2.14

-0.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$6.04 $6.04

1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 $7.86

$6.98 $6.98

12.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.94 $0.94

15.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.13 $3.13

9.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.60 $3.60

-8.06%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$4.17 $4.17

2.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.98 $11.98

$12.71 $12.71

-5.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.74 $10.74

$11.97 $11.97

-10.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$17.55 $17.55

-15.73%

Apples (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$4.22 $4.22

18.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.39 $1.39

7.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$4.00 $4.00

10.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.61 $2.61

51.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.79 $2.79

-1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.28 $2.28

19.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.86 $1.86

9.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.25 $2.25

0.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.09 $9.09

$9.80 $9.80

-7.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$12.43 $12.43

20.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.01 $2.01

16.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.82 $3.82

-7.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.28 $1.28

16.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.05 $44.05

$73.7 $73.7

-40.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 $4.47

$3.83 $3.83

16.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.90 $1.90

-7.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.44 $34.44

$30.52 $30.52

12.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.78 $0.78

-5.13%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$32.4K $32.4K

-20.89%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.8K $25.8K

3.44%

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

$172 $172

$197 $197

-12.47%

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

$59.3 $59.3

$62.3 $62.3

-4.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$64.8 $64.8

2.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.1 $63.1

$38.32 $38.32

64.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

$10.96 $10.96

-7.21%

Cinema Ticket

$15.28 $15.28

$15.13 $15.13

0.99%

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

$1,406 $1,406

$1,272 $1,272

10.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$19.3K $19.3K

13.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$45.67 $45.67

23.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.72 $45.72

$44.09 $44.09

3.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$98.0 $98.0

-12.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$124 $124

-5.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,196 $2,196

$1,643 $1,643

33.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 $1,434

$1,269 $1,269

13.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,878 $3,878

$3,061 $3,061

26.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,610 $2,610

$2,413 $2,413

8.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,228 $7,228

$2,525 $2,525

186.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,282 $3,282

$1,920 $1,920

70.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,984 $4,984

$4,608 $4,608

8.16%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Houston, TX: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,196 in Austin, TX and $1,643 in Houston, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 8% 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 $81 in Houston, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $371, with Houston, 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 Houston, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Houston, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Houston, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 8% 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 $1,643 in Houston, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,707 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,615 in Houston, TX – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Houston, TX runs roughly 67% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Houston, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Houston, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,615 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Houston, TX hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Houston, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.