Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Livonia, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Livonia, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,543 in Livonia, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,793 in Livonia, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $5,044 in Livonia, MI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 6% more expensive than in Livonia, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Livonia, MI 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$17.75 $17.75

12.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$67.7 $67.7

10.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$10.08 $10.08

-2.28%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$4.80 $4.80

20.63%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.48 $2.48

10.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.56 $1.56

39.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$6.06 $6.06

-1.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$7.14 $7.14

13.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.88 $0.88

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.45 $3.45

-4.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$5.04 $5.04

-33.13%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$3.33 $3.33

29.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$12.19 $12.19

-1.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$11.92 $11.92

-11.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$17.50 $17.50

-16.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$5.58 $5.58

-9.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.36 $1.36

15.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$6.35 $6.35

-31.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$5.86 $5.86

-30.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.11 $2.11

31.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.71 $3.71

-23.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.53 $2.53

-22.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.49 $2.49

-10.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$9.88 $9.88

-11.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.85 $14.85

-0.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.85 $1.85

26.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.68 $3.68

-5.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.98 $1.98

-23.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

$30.15 $30.15

41.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$4.78 $4.78

-9.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.41 $1.41

27.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$27.70 $27.70

27.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.90 $0.90

-11.11%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$24.3K $24.3K

5.77%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.5K $24.5K

9.58%

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

$173 $173

$163 $163

6.32%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$49.91 $49.91

17.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$52.3 $52.3

28.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$42.26 $42.26

46.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$10.82 $10.82

36.78%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,143 $1,143

23.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$21.1K $21.1K

5.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$64.9 $64.9

-15.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$31.48 $31.48

48.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$95.9 $95.9

-8.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$110 $110

8.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,144 $1,144

92.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,350 $1,350

5.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,646 $2,646

42.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,256 $2,256

19.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$5,572 $5,572

-8.59%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Livonia, MI: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,144 in Livonia, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Livonia, MI pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $68.0 in Livonia, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $416, with Austin, TX 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 Livonia, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Livonia, MI wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Livonia, MI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Livonia, MI. 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,144 in Livonia, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,701 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,543 in Livonia, MI – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Livonia, MI runs roughly 42% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,543 in Livonia, MI versus $2,701 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Livonia, MI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Livonia, MI 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 Livonia, MI 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 Livonia, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.