Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Jonesboro, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Jonesboro, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $1,952 in Jonesboro, AR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,128 in Jonesboro, AR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,304 in Jonesboro, AR.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 39% more expensive than in Jonesboro, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Jonesboro, AR 46% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$14.81 $14.81

33.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$49.82 $49.82

52.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$8.66 $8.66

13.86%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.15 $4.15

32.05%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.19 $2.19

21.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.72 $1.72

21.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$3.98 $3.98

53.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$6.16 $6.16

32.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.94 $0.94

17.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.88 $2.88

17.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$2.08 $2.08

62.50%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.26 $3.26

34.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$4.52 $4.52

167.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$5.47 $5.47

98.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$7.67 $7.67

91.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.53 $4.53

9.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.28 $1.28

17.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$2.17 $2.17

102.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.60 $3.60

13.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.59 $1.59

76.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.15 $2.15

33.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.97 $1.97

-1.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.97 $1.97

10.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$6.88 $6.88

30.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$11.88 $11.88

27.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.74 $1.74

33.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.47 $3.47

-1.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.03 $1.03

49.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.06 $3.06

44.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.48 $1.48

23.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$35.60 $35.60

-2.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.68 $0.68

14.71%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$29.7K $29.7K

-12.48%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.76%

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

$175 $175

$215 $215

-18.91%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$68.4 $68.4

-12.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$72.2 $72.2

-9.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$37.24 $37.24

64.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$11.99 $11.99

23.10%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$770 $770

78.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.0K $23.0K

-3.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$51.5 $51.5

9.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$33.23 $33.23

36.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$69.9 $69.9

21.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$102 $102

16.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,203 $1,203

82.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$878 $878

59.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$1,312 $1,312

190.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,221 $2,221

20.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$1,552 $1,552

359.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$1,549 $1,549

98.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$3,331 $3,331

53.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Jonesboro, AR: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,203 in Jonesboro, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 53% 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 $50.0 in Jonesboro, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $260 per month, with Jonesboro, AR 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 Jonesboro, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jonesboro, AR wins on cost – living expenses run 39% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jonesboro, AR the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 53% 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 $1,203 in Jonesboro, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,372 in Austin, TX versus $770 in Jonesboro, AR. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Jonesboro, AR – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,952 in Jonesboro, AR versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Jonesboro, AR but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Jonesboro, AR 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.

Expats usually find Jonesboro, AR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.