Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Independence, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Independence, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,138 in Independence, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,126 in Independence, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,115 in Independence, MO.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 24% more expensive than Independence, MO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Independence, MO 60% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$20.15 $20.15

-2.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

0.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$11.67 $11.67

-15.00%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.09 $5.09

11.39%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.96 $2.96

-6.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.93 $1.93

12.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.15 $6.15

-5.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$7.05 $7.05

10.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.16 $1.16

-6.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.43 $3.43

-0.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.49 $4.49

-23.61%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.54 $3.54

24.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$11.80 $11.80

1.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$10.50 $10.50

2.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$12.85 $12.85

11.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.42 $4.42

9.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.51 $1.51

2.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.87 $5.87

-24.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$6.48 $6.48

-39.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.59 $2.59

5.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.64 $3.64

-24.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.98 $1.98

3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.58 $2.58

-12.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$8.64 $8.64

3.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$15.28 $15.28

-2.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.73 $1.73

35.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.48 $4.48

-20.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.95 $1.95

-24.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.95 $2.95

45.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.53 $1.53

20.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$20.80 $20.80

70.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.81 $0.81

-11.11%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$35.1K $35.1K

-26.64%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.7K $26.7K

-2.21%

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

$174 $174

$252 $252

-31.02%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$53.1 $53.1

13.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$67.7 $67.7

-2.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.69 $42.69

46.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$13.95 $13.95

9.25%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$925 $925

49.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$24.3K $24.3K

-8.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$53.5 $53.5

6.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$38.65 $38.65

17.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$95.5 $95.5

-9.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$112 $112

6.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,001 $1,001

124.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$834 $834

71.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,314 $2,314

63.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,302 $1,302

102.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$1,513 $1,513

365.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,487 $3,487

46.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.5

-0.77%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Independence, MO: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,001 in Independence, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 46% 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $75.0 in Independence, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $394 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 Independence, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Independence, MO wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Independence, MO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 46% 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,001 in Independence, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $925 in Independence, MO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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

At $2,138 in Independence, MO versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Independence, MO but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Independence, MO 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 Independence, MO 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 Independence, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.