Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Johnson City, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Johnson City, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,069 in Johnson City, TN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,019 in Johnson City, TN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $3,968 in Johnson City, TN.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 29% more expensive than Johnson City, TN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Johnson City, TN 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$12.78 $12.78

53.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$49.26 $49.26

52.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$11.80 $11.80

-15.93%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$3.79 $3.79

49.60%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.10 $2.10

31.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.74 $1.74

24.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.06 $5.06

15.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$5.85 $5.85

32.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.00 $1.00

9.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.83 $3.83

-10.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.06 $3.06

12.09%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.28 $3.28

33.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$7.49 $7.49

59.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$8.43 $8.43

27.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$13.30 $13.30

7.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.01 $4.01

20.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.62 $1.62

-4.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.96 $3.96

12.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.61 $3.61

8.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.44 $2.44

12.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.65 $3.65

-24.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.86 $1.86

9.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.22 $2.22

1.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$7.33 $7.33

21.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$13.20 $13.20

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.62 $1.62

45.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.09 $4.09

-12.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.56 $2.56

-42.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$37.08 $37.08

15.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$5.40 $5.40

-20.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.48 $1.48

24.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$64.1 $64.1

-44.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.78 $0.78

-7.69%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.9K $29.9K

-14.00%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$22.4K $22.4K

16.73%

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

$174 $174

$151 $151

15.22%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$74.6 $74.6

-19.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$52.1 $52.1

27.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$47.39 $47.39

32.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$20.31 $20.31

-51.60%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$12.94 $12.94

17.77%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$909 $909

52.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$14.7K $14.7K

51.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$39.32 $39.32

44.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$36.77 $36.77

23.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$62.7 $62.7

37.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$116 $116

2.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,182 $1,182

90.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,023 $1,023

39.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,035 $2,035

85.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,636 $1,636

61.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,156 $2,156

226.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,218 $2,218

42.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,409 $3,409

49.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.15

4.88%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Johnson City, TN: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,182 in Johnson City, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 50% 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 $49.00 in Johnson City, TN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $333 per month, with Johnson City, TN 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 Johnson City, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Johnson City, TN wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Johnson City, TN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 50% 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 $1,182 in Johnson City, TN. 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 $2,069 in Johnson City, TN – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Johnson City, TN runs roughly 16% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,069 in Johnson City, TN versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Johnson City, TN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Johnson City, TN 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 Johnson City, TN 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 Johnson City, TN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.