Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Ithaca, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Ithaca, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,218 in Ithaca, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,397 in Ithaca, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,576 in Ithaca, NY.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 20% more expensive than Ithaca, NY, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Ithaca, NY 66% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$20.08 $20.08

-2.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$68.7 $68.7

9.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.97 $10.97

-9.57%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.01 $5.01

13.17%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.84 $2.84

-2.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.88 $1.88

15.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.01 $5.01

16.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.03 $6.03

28.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.99 $0.99

10.10%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.91 $3.91

-12.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.60 $5.60

-38.75%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.10 $4.10

7.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$13.84 $13.84

-13.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$6.62 $6.62

62.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$15.01 $15.01

-4.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.57 $4.57

5.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.59 $1.59

-2.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.58 $4.58

-2.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.01 $5.01

-21.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$7.04 $7.04

-61.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.54 $3.54

-22.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.89 $2.89

-29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.77 $1.77

27.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$8.86 $8.86

0.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$13.79 $13.79

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.85 $1.85

27.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.06 $4.06

-12.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.49 $1.49

-1.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$45.56 $45.56

-5.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$4.88 $4.88

-12.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.36 $1.36

35.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$26.98 $26.98

31.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.90 $0.90

-20.00%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.8K $29.8K

-13.58%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.30%

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

$174 $174

$137 $137

26.88%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$47.48 $47.48

26.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$65.8 $65.8

0.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.94 $42.94

46.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$10.94 $10.94

39.31%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,559 $1,559

-11.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$28.3K $28.3K

-21.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$43.80 $43.80

29.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$39.88 $39.88

13.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$78.9 $78.9

9.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$103 $103

15.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,647 $1,647

36.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,059 $1,059

35.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,614 $2,614

44.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,860 $1,860

41.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,182 $2,182

222.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,137 $2,137

47.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,366 $3,366

51.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.28

2.71%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ithaca, NY: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,647 in Ithaca, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 52% 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 $69.0 in Ithaca, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $389, 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 Ithaca, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ithaca, NY wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ithaca, NY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 52% 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 $1,647 in Ithaca, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,218 in Ithaca, NY – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ithaca, NY runs roughly 6% 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 $3,000. Ithaca, NY 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 Ithaca, NY 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 Ithaca, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.