Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Iowa City, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Iowa City, IA

😐 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 3.1% more expensive than Iowa City, IA without rent, and 16.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 22.2% more expensive than Iowa City, IA without rent, and 33.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.13 $20.13

$15.1 $15.1

33.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.7 $74.7

$76 $76

-1.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.02 $10.02

$9.03 $9.03

10.96%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.97 $4.97

10.46%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$2.41 $2.41

13.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.77 $1.77

20.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.88 $4.88

19.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.93 $7.93

$7.05 $7.05

12.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.1 $1.1

$0.84 $0.84

30.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.33 $3.33

$2.6 $2.6

28.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.9 $4.9

-29.18%

Eggs

$4.34 $4.34

$4 $4

8.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.87 $11.87

$9.41 $9.41

26.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.56 $10.56

$10.5 $10.5

0.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.75 $14.75

$16.28 $16.28

-9.40%

Apples (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$3.3 $3.3

52.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.5 $1.5

$1.22 $1.22

22.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$2.8 $2.8

60.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.75 $4.75

-14.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.06 $2.06

37.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.79 $2.79

1.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.94 $1.94

1.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.98 $1.98

8.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.76 $8.76

$8.9 $8.9

-1.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.7 $14.7

$14.4 $14.4

2.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.71 $1.71

36.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$4.79 $4.79

-26.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.03 $2.03

-24.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.15 $43.15

$15.92 $15.92

171.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.62 $4.62

-3.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.23 $2.23

-18.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.66 $35.66

$41.38 $41.38

-13.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.81 $0.81

-3.70%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$24.8K $24.8K

4.56%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

3.75%

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

$176 $176

$219 $219

-19.74%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$50.5 $50.5

15.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67 $67

$73.8 $73.8

-9.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 $61.9

$48.68 $48.68

27.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.9 $9.9

$20.13 $20.13

-50.82%

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$12.06 $12.06

24.79%

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

$1,399 $1,399

$1,262 $1,262

10.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.9K $21.9K

$24.9K $24.9K

-12.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 $55.6

$66.5 $66.5

-16.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.14 $45.14

$49.21 $49.21

-8.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 $86.1

$101 $101

-14.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$117 $117

2.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$1,238 $1,238

79.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,402 $1,402

$1,110 $1,110

26.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,792 $3,792

$2,399 $2,399

58.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,681 $2,681

$1,567 $1,567

71.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,241 $4,241

$3,897 $3,897

8.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,166 $3,166

$1,941 $1,941

63.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,990 $4,990

$3,620 $3,620

37.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.43

0.31%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: December 1, 2025

Last update for Iowa City, IA: December 2, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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