Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lake Geneva, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lake Geneva, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,580 in Lake Geneva, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,438 in Lake Geneva, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,295 in Lake Geneva, WI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 3% more expensive than Lake Geneva, WI, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Lake Geneva, WI 93% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$20.73 $20.73

-5.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$101 $101

-25.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$11.81 $11.81

-16.00%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.76 $5.76

-1.56%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$3.09 $3.09

-10.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.38 $2.38

-8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.93 $6.93

-15.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$8.43 $8.43

-7.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.99 $0.99

10.10%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.48 $2.48

37.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.38 $5.38

-36.25%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$1.94 $1.94

126.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$14.26 $14.26

-16.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$9.80 $9.80

9.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$9.87 $9.87

44.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.22 $4.22

14.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.76 $1.76

-11.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.24 $4.24

5.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.52 $4.52

-13.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.45 $2.45

11.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.71 $2.71

1.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.40 $2.40

-15.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.61 $2.61

-13.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$8.71 $8.71

2.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$13.20 $13.20

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.39 $2.39

-1.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.60 $3.60

-0.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.96 $1.96

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.19 $3.19

34.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.38 $1.38

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$25.06 $25.06

41.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.84 $0.84

-14.29%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$31.9K $31.9K

-19.47%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.22%

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

$174 $174

$188 $188

-7.58%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$63.4 $63.4

-4.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$49.31 $49.31

34.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$39.27 $39.27

59.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$9.85 $9.85

54.72%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$2,097 $2,097

-33.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$38.6K $38.6K

-42.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$64.2 $64.2

-11.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$52.4 $52.4

-13.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$95.8 $95.8

-9.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$144 $144

-17.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,524 $1,524

47.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,339 $1,339

6.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,676 $1,676

125.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,511 $1,511

74.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,907 $2,907

142.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,256 $2,256

40.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,766 $3,766

35.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lake Geneva, WI: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,524 in Lake Geneva, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 36% 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $101 in Lake Geneva, WI. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $356, with Lake Geneva, WI 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 Lake Geneva, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lake Geneva, WI wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lake Geneva, WI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 36% 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,524 in Lake Geneva, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $2,097 in Lake Geneva, WI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Lake Geneva, WI – a meal for two runs $101 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 $3,000. Lake Geneva, WI 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.

Expats usually find Lake Geneva, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.