Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lexington, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lexington, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,188 in Lexington, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,254 in Lexington, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,320 in Lexington, KY.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 23% more expensive than in Lexington, KY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Lexington, KY 59% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$12.86 $12.86

54.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$56.8 $56.8

47.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$9.22 $9.22

33.41%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.93 $4.93

11.16%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.51 $2.51

48.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.05 $2.05

15.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.04 $5.04

53.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$5.91 $5.91

54.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.79 $0.79

43.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.87 $2.87

30.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.01 $4.01

-14.46%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$3.63 $3.63

19.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$10.41 $10.41

26.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$10.08 $10.08

42.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$14.12 $14.12

21.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.39 $5.39

-16.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.48 $1.48

-2.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$5.78 $5.78

-19.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.36 $4.36

13.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$4.10 $4.10

-26.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.08 $3.08

-12.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.17 $2.17

-14.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$3.01 $3.01

-27.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$8.53 $8.53

10.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$12.76 $12.76

18.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.74 $2.74

5.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.21 $4.21

-17.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.03 $1.03

59.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

$29.57 $29.57

36.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$4.86 $4.86

-42.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.87 $0.87

3.45%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

-0.11%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$24.9K $24.9K

10.88%

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

$222 $222

$188 $188

17.97%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$104 $104

-44.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$75.7 $75.7

-8.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$32.10 $32.10

106.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$29.70 $29.70

-50.30%

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$15.22 $15.22

-9.46%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,619 $1,619

-5.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

-16.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$50.8 $50.8

7.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$31.77 $31.77

38.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$116 $116

-22.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$155 $155

-29.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,116 $1,116

73.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$938 $938

34.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,024 $2,024

85.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,590 $1,590

63.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,063 $2,063

258.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,066 $2,066

55.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$3,943 $3,943

28.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.18

4.21%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lexington, KY: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,116 in Lexington, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 29% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $57.0 in Lexington, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $383 per month, with Lexington, KY 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 Lexington, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lexington, KY wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lexington, KY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 29% 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,116 in Lexington, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,695 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,188 in Lexington, KY – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lexington, KY runs roughly 37% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,188 in Lexington, KY versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lexington, KY but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lexington, KY 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Lexington, KY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lexington, KY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.