Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Little Rock, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Little Rock, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,319 in Little Rock, AR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,182 in Little Rock, AR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,046 in Little Rock, AR.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 15% more expensive than Little Rock, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Little Rock, AR 73% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$18.08 $18.08

8.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$60.3 $60.3

24.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$11.69 $11.69

-15.14%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.70 $4.70

20.64%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.78 $2.78

-0.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.44 $2.44

-11.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.14 $5.14

13.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.14 $6.14

26.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.03 $1.03

5.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.39 $3.39

0.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.07 $3.07

11.73%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$2.99 $2.99

46.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$9.93 $9.93

20.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$11.33 $11.33

-5.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$16.77 $16.77

-14.79%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.59 $4.59

5.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.39 $1.39

11.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.81 $2.81

58.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.97 $3.97

-1.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.07 $4.07

-32.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.52 $2.52

8.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.99 $1.99

2.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.93 $1.93

16.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$8.41 $8.41

6.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$11.98 $11.98

23.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.67 $1.67

40.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.25 $2.25

58.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.37 $1.37

7.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$35.53 $35.53

20.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.49 $2.49

71.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.48 $1.48

24.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$23.62 $23.62

50.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.78 $0.78

-7.69%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$24.1K $24.1K

6.90%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.26%

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

$174 $174

$276 $276

-36.99%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$57.3 $57.3

5.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$71.5 $71.5

-7.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$53.6 $53.6

17.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$12.21 $12.21

-19.49%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$12.27 $12.27

24.21%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,051 $1,051

31.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$19.2K $19.2K

15.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$53.1 $53.1

6.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$41.17 $41.17

10.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$100 $100

-13.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$117 $117

1.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,270 $1,270

76.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$944 $944

51.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,779 $1,779

112.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,254 $1,254

110.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$1,863 $1,863

278.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$1,330 $1,330

137.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,779 $3,779

35.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.58

-1.98%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Little Rock, AR: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,270 in Little Rock, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 35% 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 $60.0 in Little Rock, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $353 per month, with Little Rock, AR 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 Little Rock, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Little Rock, AR wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Little Rock, AR the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 35% 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 $1,270 in Little Rock, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,319 in Little Rock, AR – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Little Rock, AR runs roughly 21% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,319 in Little Rock, AR versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Little Rock, AR but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Little Rock, AR the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Little Rock, AR delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,319 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Little Rock, AR hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Little Rock, AR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.