Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Kenosha, WI

For one person, living is cheaper in Kenosha, WI: $2,325 a month against $2,607 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX, United States
Kenosha, WI, United States
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,607
/mo nomad
Kenosha, WI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,325
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Kenosha, WI

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Kenosha, WI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,607 in Austin, TX versus $2,325 in Kenosha, WI.

  • Austin, TX $2,607
  • Kenosha, WI $2,325

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,031 in Austin, TX versus $3,419 in Kenosha, WI.

  • Austin, TX $4,031
  • Kenosha, WI $3,419

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,454 in Austin, TX versus $4,514 in Kenosha, WI.

  • Austin, TX $5,454
  • Kenosha, WI $4,514

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 12% more expensive than in Kenosha, WI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Kenosha, WI 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Kenosha, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.35 $20.35
$20.11 $20.11
1.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.7 $84.7
$66.1 $66.1
28.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$10.19 $10.19
18.94%
Cappuccino
$5.65 $5.65
$5.83 $5.83
-3.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.69 $2.69
36.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.96 $1.96
20.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.87 $7.87
$4.43 $4.43
77.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.82 $8.82
$8.11 $8.11
8.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Kenosha, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$0.99 $0.99
15.15%
White Bread (500g)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.40 $3.40
8.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$4.16 $4.16
-20.43%
Eggs
$4.15 $4.15
$3.58 $3.58
15.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.98 $12.98
$15.13 $15.13
-14.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.86 $13.86
$8.93 $8.93
55.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.34 $16.34
$10.87 $10.87
50.32%
Apples (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$4.61 $4.61
1.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.47 $1.47
-1.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.11 $5.11
$2.27 $2.27
125.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$4.96 $4.96
-8.87%
Potato (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$1.57 $1.57
96.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.16 $2.16
10.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.23 $1.23
46.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.36 $2.36
-5.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97 $9.97
$10.86 $10.86
-8.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.05 $15.05
$15.42 $15.42
-2.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.71 $1.71
70.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$4.37 $4.37
-23.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Kenosha, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.97 $1.97
-38.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.53 $40.53
$61.0 $61.0
-33.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.97 $3.97
-29.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$2.05 $2.05
-19.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.39 $35.39
$43.94 $43.94
-19.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.96 $0.96
-1.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K $34.2K
$27.2K $27.2K
25.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
2.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Kenosha, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 $223
$160 $160
39.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.5 $58.5
$53.4 $53.4
9.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2 $71.2
$67.9 $67.9
4.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Kenosha, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.0 $53.0
$31.86 $31.86
66.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.75 $16.75
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.06 $14.06
$9.88 $9.88
42.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Kenosha, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,459 $1,459
$1,117 $1,117
30.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.3K $21.3K
$23.0K $23.0K
-7.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Kenosha, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5 $52.5
$63.3 $63.3
-17.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.75 $42.75
$51.0 $51.0
-16.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.4 $86.4
$88.2 $88.2
-2.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$83.6 $83.6
24.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Kenosha, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,112 $2,112
$1,459 $1,459
44.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,230 $1,230
$1,107 $1,107
11.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,863 $3,863
$1,800 $1,800
114.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,407 $2,407
$1,842 $1,842
30.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,426 $7,426
$2,589 $2,589
186.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,060 $3,060
$1,791 $1,791
70.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Kenosha, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,179 $5,179
$3,939 $3,939
31.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
6.69
1.94%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Last update for Kenosha, WI: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.2K
Kenosha, WI
$1.1K 10% $123
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$410
Kenosha, WI
$354 13.7% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$353
Kenosha, WI
$282 20.1% $71
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$348
Kenosha, WI
$318 8.5% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Kenosha, WI
$129 0.2% $0.2
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$81
Kenosha, WI
$52 36.4% $30
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$56
Kenosha, WI
$83 47.1% $27

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,112 in Austin, TX and $1,459 in Kenosha, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 31% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $85 in Austin, TX vs $66 in Kenosha, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $410 vs $354 per month, with Kenosha, WI cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇺🇸 Kenosha, WI
🕒 Local time
18:06 6:06 PM
18:06 6:06 PM
Same time as Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
99,986
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Kenosha, WI 1,630 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Kenosha, WI

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kenosha, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Kenosha, WI?
Kenosha, WI wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Kenosha, WI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Kenosha, WI?
Average pay runs 31% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Kenosha, WI?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,112 in Austin, TX versus $1,459 in Kenosha, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Kenosha, WI?
All in, you’ll spend $2,607 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,325 in Kenosha, WI – Kenosha, WI is about 11% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Kenosha, WI?
A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 34% less than in Kenosha, WI. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Austin, TX or in Kenosha, WI?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Kenosha, WI gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Kenosha, WI?
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.
Should I move to Austin, TX or to Kenosha, WI?
It comes down to priorities – Kenosha, WI wins on affordability, Austin, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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