Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Jefferson City, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Jefferson City, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,498 in Jefferson City, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,535 in Jefferson City, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,573 in Jefferson City, MO.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 8% more expensive than in Jefferson City, MO, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Jefferson City, MO 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$15.24 $15.24

29.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$40.54 $40.54

87.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$9.97 $9.97

-1.10%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.97 $4.97

10.26%

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

$1.46 $1.46

43.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.98 $4.98

22.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$5.93 $5.93

37.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.64 $0.64

71.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.23 $2.23

52.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$4.46 $4.46

-24.22%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.58 $3.58

22.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$4.47 $4.47

170.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$10.54 $10.54

2.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$12.73 $12.73

15.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.48 $4.48

10.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.45 $1.45

4.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$6.38 $6.38

-31.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.50 $4.50

-8.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.59 $3.59

-21.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.59 $3.59

-20.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.31 $2.31

-15.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.04 $2.04

6.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$6.94 $6.94

29.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$12.71 $12.71

18.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.98 $1.98

17.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.29 $5.29

-35.16%

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

$2.44 $2.44

80.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.23 $2.23

-17.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$20.97 $20.97

65.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.76 $0.76

2.63%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$36.4K $36.4K

-28.65%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

2.71%

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

$175 $175

$216 $216

-19.22%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$62.7 $62.7

-4.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$53.7 $53.7

21.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$43.46 $43.46

40.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$14.95 $14.95

-1.27%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,387 $1,387

-1.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$28.3K $28.3K

-21.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$54.0 $54.0

4.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$42.16 $42.16

7.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$107 $107

-20.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$126 $126

-6.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,607 $1,607

36.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,354 $1,354

3.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,635 $2,635

44.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,209 $2,209

21.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$1,574 $1,574

353.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$1,734 $1,734

77.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$1,917 $1,917

166.53%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Jefferson City, MO: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,607 in Jefferson City, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 167% 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 $41.00 in Jefferson City, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $342 per month, with Jefferson City, MO 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 Jefferson City, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jefferson City, MO wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jefferson City, MO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 167% 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 $1,607 in Jefferson City, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,372 in Austin, TX versus $1,387 in Jefferson City, MO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Jefferson City, MO – a meal for two runs $41.00 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Jefferson City, MO 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 Jefferson City, 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 Jefferson City, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.