Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lima, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lima, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,453 in Lima, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,828 in Lima, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $5,204 in Lima, OH.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 11% more expensive than Lima, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Lima, OH 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$20.28 $20.28

-1.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$79.5 $79.5

-4.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.95 $10.95

-7.49%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.91 $4.91

11.81%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.56 $2.56

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.20 $2.20

-2.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.66 $5.66

7.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$7.08 $7.08

13.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.83 $0.83

31.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.11 $3.11

7.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.08 $4.08

-16.18%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.14 $3.14

37.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$13.29 $13.29

-11.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$14.08 $14.08

-24.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$16.20 $16.20

-10.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.91 $5.91

-18.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.31 $1.31

14.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.53 $5.53

-18.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.17 $5.17

-21.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.76 $3.76

-26.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.07 $3.07

-9.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.17 $2.17

-5.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.08 $2.08

3.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$9.43 $9.43

-2.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$14.78 $14.78

0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.02 $2.02

13.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.55 $2.55

38.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.96 $1.96

-22.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$42.84 $42.84

1.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.94 $2.94

45.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.51 $1.51

20.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$26.90 $26.90

32.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.82 $0.82

-6.10%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$30.3K $30.3K

-15.35%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.36%

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

$172 $172

$276 $276

-37.71%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$61.2 $61.2

-1.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$69.0 $69.0

-2.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$36.75 $36.75

70.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

$34.55 $34.55

-71.49%

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$11.98 $11.98

22.95%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,251 $1,251

11.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$15.0K $15.0K

44.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

0.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$38.58 $38.58

18.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$80.1 $80.1

8.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$102 $102

13.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$867 $867

159.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,115 $1,115

25.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,672 $2,672

41.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,215 $2,215

22.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$1,431 $1,431

410.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$1,400 $1,400

137.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$5,104 $5,104

-3.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Lima, OH: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $867 in Lima, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lima, OH pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $79 in Lima, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $408 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 Lima, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lima, OH 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 Lima, OH the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Lima, OH earns 4% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $867 in Lima, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,453 in Lima, OH – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lima, OH runs roughly 2% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,453 in Lima, OH versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lima, OH but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lima, OH 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 Lima, OH 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 Lima, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.