Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Kettering

For one person, living is cheaper in Kettering: $1,921 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Kettering
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$1,921
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Kettering

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 Kettering actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,921 in Kettering.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Kettering $1,921

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $2,555 in Kettering.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Kettering $2,555

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $3,189 in Kettering.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Kettering $3,189

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 39% more expensive than in Kettering, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 97% above, Kettering 42% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Kettering
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$19.80 £14.86
4.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$80.4 £60.3
5.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$10.75 £8.07
14.60%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$4.59 £3.44
22.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.10 £1.58
77.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.53 £1.15
63.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$5.75 £4.31
40.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$5.35 £4.01
68.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Kettering
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.44 £1.08
-22.22%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.76 £1.32
113.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.71 £2.03
20.30%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$3.98 £2.99
4.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$9.01 £6.76
43.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$7.54 £5.66
87.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$16.40 £12.30
-1.10%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$3.30 £2.48
31.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.54 £1.15
-5.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.67 £2.01
68.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$3.16 £2.37
37.34%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.21 £0.91
113.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.71 £1.28
37.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.21 £0.91
47.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.24 £0.93
79.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$23.65 £17.74
-58.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$9.70 £7.28
55.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.28 £2.46
-10.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.39 £1.79
44.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Kettering
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$2.59 £1.94
-42.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$4.09 £3.07
-33.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.59 £1.19
4.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$31.82 £23.87
10.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$2.00 £1.50
-52.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$37.6K £28.2K
-4.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$41.0K £30.7K
-33.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Kettering
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$200 £150
14.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$16.23 £12.17
265.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$43.94 £32.96
59.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Kettering
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$39.72 £29.80
44.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$12.96 £9.73
10.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Kettering
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$1,503 £1,128
0.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$22.3K £16.7K
-3.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Kettering
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$86.4 £64.8
-38.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$31.23 £23.43
40.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$73.9 £55.4
14.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$97.2 £72.9
6.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Kettering
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$1,053 £790
81.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$851 £638
49.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,071 £804
242.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$758 £569
234.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Kettering
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$4,330 £3,248
18.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
5.06
34.19%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Kettering: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Kettering
$851 33.2% $424
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Kettering
$292 27.8% $112
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Kettering
$260 27.4% $98
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Kettering
$300 15.3% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Kettering
$130 1.5% $1.9
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Kettering
$66 23.5% $20
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Kettering
$22 * 61.8% $36

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $1,053 in Kettering. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 18% 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $80.0 in Kettering for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $292 per month, with Kettering cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇬🇧 Kettering
🕒 Local time
16:56 4:56 PM
22:56 10:56 PM
6 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
56,676
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Kettering 7,830 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Kettering

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 Kettering: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Kettering?
Kettering 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 Kettering the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Kettering?
Average pay runs 18% 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 Kettering?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $1,053 in Kettering. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Austin, TX and in Kettering?
Childcare runs $1,506 in Austin, TX versus $1,503 in Kettering. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Austin, TX and in Kettering?
Dining out is cheaper in Kettering – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Austin, TX or in Kettering?
At $1,921 in Kettering versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Kettering but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Kettering the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Kettering?
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.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Kettering?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Kettering are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kettering 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.

Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

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