Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Joplin, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Joplin, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,221 in Joplin, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $2,969 in Joplin, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $3,716 in Joplin, MO.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 22% more expensive than in Joplin, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Joplin, MO 66% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$20.18 $20.18

-2.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$54.5 $54.5

39.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.09 $10.09

-2.28%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.63 $4.63

18.36%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$1.78 $1.78

48.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.65 $1.65

26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.12 $5.12

18.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$6.04 $6.04

34.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.93 $0.93

18.28%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.07 $3.07

10.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$1.98 $1.98

70.71%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.94 $3.94

11.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$9.78 $9.78

23.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$6.53 $6.53

66.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$18.21 $18.21

-19.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.95 $4.95

0.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.65 $1.65

-8.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$2.84 $2.84

54.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.20 $2.20

86.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.59 $2.59

8.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.44 $2.44

17.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.81 $1.81

7.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.82 $1.82

19.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$9.37 $9.37

-4.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.17 $15.17

-0.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.71 $1.71

36.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.86 $3.86

-11.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.96 $1.96

-21.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.53 $2.53

74.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.58 $1.58

15.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$26.89 $26.89

28.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.74 $0.74

5.41%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.5K $27.5K

-5.75%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$24.2K $24.2K

6.92%

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

$175 $175

$326 $326

-46.41%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$43.54 $43.54

37.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$69.8 $69.8

-6.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$19.60 $19.60

212.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$13.15 $13.15

12.24%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$925 $925

48.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$16.3K $16.3K

36.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$40.52 $40.52

39.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$39.22 $39.22

15.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$100 $100

-15.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$69.1 $69.1

71.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,172 $1,172

87.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$985 $985

42.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$1,603 $1,603

137.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$1,177 $1,177

127.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$1,481 $1,481

381.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$1,465 $1,465

110.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$3,355 $3,355

52.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.17

4.54%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Joplin, MO: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,172 in Joplin, MO. 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: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $55.0 in Joplin, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $326 per month, with Joplin, 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 Joplin, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Joplin, MO wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Joplin, MO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 52% 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 $1,172 in Joplin, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,372 in Austin, TX versus $925 in Joplin, MO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Joplin, MO – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,221 in Joplin, MO versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Joplin, MO but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Joplin, MO 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 Joplin, 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 Joplin, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.