Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Kansas City, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Kansas City, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,732 in Austin, TX versus $2,727 in Kansas City, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,139 in Austin, TX versus $3,931 in Kansas City, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,545 in Austin, TX versus $5,136 in Kansas City, KS.

Monthly costs are close between Austin, TX and Kansas City, KS; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 105% above, Kansas City, KS 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$20.43 $20.43

-4.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$64.2 $64.2

17.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 $9.89

$12.24 $12.24

-19.20%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.24 $5.24

4.77%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$2.33 $2.33

15.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.85 $1.85

15.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$4.88 $4.88

21.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$7.11 $7.11

10.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.01 $1.01

13.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.46 $3.46

-3.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.85 $4.85

-28.25%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$4.43 $4.43

-0.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.79 $11.79

$10.64 $10.64

10.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 $10.65

$10.87 $10.87

-2.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$12.78 $12.78

15.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.29 $5.29

-9.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.03 $2.03

-22.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$6.68 $6.68

-34.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$5.62 $5.62

-28.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$4.36 $4.36

-37.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.58 $3.58

-20.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.30 $2.30

-11.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.36 $2.36

-4.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.78 $8.78

$9.77 $9.77

-10.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.03 $15.03

$16.81 $16.81

-10.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.80 $1.80

26.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$5.36 $5.36

-35.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.99 $43.99

$55.1 $55.1

-20.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.30 $4.30

$5.12 $5.12

-16.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.58 $1.58

15.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$41.09 $41.09

-14.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.78 $0.78

-6.41%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$30.4K $30.4K

-14.98%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.4K $25.4K

4.15%

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

$172 $172

$189 $189

-8.96%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$54.5 $54.5

7.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 $66.1

$53.2 $53.2

24.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 $63.6

$115 $115

-44.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.15 $10.15

$64.0 $64.0

-84.15%

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$14.95 $14.95

0.67%

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

$1,399 $1,399

$1,085 $1,085

29.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$28.8K $28.8K

-23.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$48.52 $48.52

16.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.66 $46.66

$34.92 $34.92

33.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 $86.4

$89.3 $89.3

-3.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$128 $128

-7.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$1,378 $1,378

61.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,399 $1,399

$1,311 $1,311

6.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,821 $3,821

$3,440 $3,440

11.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$2,159 $2,159

22.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,237 $7,237

$2,232 $2,232

224.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,127 $3,127

$2,193 $2,193

42.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,009 $5,009

$3,121 $3,121

60.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.54

-1.38%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 26, 2026

Last update for Kansas City, KS: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,228 in Austin, TX and $1,378 in Kansas City, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 60% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $64.0 in Kansas City, KS. Groceries flip the comparison at $378 vs $411, 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 Kansas City, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Average pay runs 60% 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: $2,228 in Austin, TX versus $1,378 in Kansas City, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,399 in Austin, TX versus $1,085 in Kansas City, KS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kansas City, KS – a meal for two runs $64.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Kansas City, KS 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.

It comes down to priorities – Kansas City, KS wins on affordability, Austin, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.