Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lafayette, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lafayette, LA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Austin, TX versus $2,349 in Lafayette, LA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,612 in Lafayette, LA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,546 in Austin, TX versus $4,875 in Lafayette, LA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 13% more expensive than Lafayette, LA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Lafayette, LA 75% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.85 $19.85

$20.32 $20.32

-2.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$100 $100

-25.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$9.98 $9.98

0.50%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$5.22 $5.22

5.75%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.54 $2.54

9.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.80 $1.80

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.06 $4.06

48.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 $7.81

$6.59 $6.59

18.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.17 $3.17

8.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$5.06 $5.06

-32.41%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$4.56 $4.56

-4.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$10.27 $10.27

19.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 $10.79

$11.09 $11.09

-2.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 $14.36

$14.89 $14.89

-3.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.90 $4.90

1.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.39 $1.39

8.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.79 $4.79

-8.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$5.31 $5.31

-25.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.58 $2.58

6.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.00 $3.00

-7.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.78 $1.78

11.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.92 $2.92

-21.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.74 $8.74

$8.08 $8.08

8.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$16.95 $16.95

-12.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.03 $2.03

11.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.62 $3.62

-1.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.23 $1.23

25.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.09 $43.09

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 $4.45

$2.98 $2.98

49.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.02 $1.02

77.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$35.63 $35.63

-0.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.80 $0.80

-7.50%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$35.0K $35.0K

-27.24%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$28.1K $28.1K

-5.98%

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

$170 $170

$236 $236

-28.04%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$52.1 $52.1

15.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$68.4 $68.4

-1.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 $61.6

$61.7 $61.7

-0.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$22.32 $22.32

-55.96%

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$11.79 $11.79

28.41%

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

$1,381 $1,381

$1,537 $1,537

-10.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$10.3K $10.3K

111.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$52.4 $52.4

8.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.94 $45.94

$41.51 $41.51

10.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$76.0 $76.0

13.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$113 $113

5.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,194 $1,194

82.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 $1,417

$1,064 $1,064

33.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,801 $3,801

$1,731 $1,731

119.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,711 $2,711

$1,906 $1,906

42.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,204 $7,204

$2,214 $2,214

225.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,239 $3,239

$2,039 $2,039

58.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,914 $4,914

$3,344 $3,344

46.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.57

-1.83%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 27, 2026

Last update for Lafayette, LA: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,183 in Austin, TX and $1,194 in Lafayette, LA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 47% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $100 in Lafayette, LA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $398 per month, with Austin, TX 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 Lafayette, LA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lafayette, LA wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lafayette, LA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 47% more on average, 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: $2,183 in Austin, TX versus $1,194 in Lafayette, LA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,381 in Austin, TX versus $1,537 in Lafayette, LA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Lafayette, LA – a meal for two runs $100 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,349 in Lafayette, LA versus $2,657 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lafayette, LA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lafayette, LA 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 Lafayette, LA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.