Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Livonia, MI: $2,274 a month against $2,607 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX, United States
Livonia, MI, United States
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,607
/mo nomad
Livonia, MI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,274
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Livonia, MI

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Livonia, MI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,607 in Austin, TX versus $2,274 in Livonia, MI.

  • Austin, TX $2,607
  • Livonia, MI $2,274

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,031 in Austin, TX versus $3,244 in Livonia, MI.

  • Austin, TX $4,031
  • Livonia, MI $3,244

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,454 in Austin, TX versus $4,215 in Livonia, MI.

  • Austin, TX $5,454
  • Livonia, MI $4,215

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 15% more expensive than in Livonia, MI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Livonia, MI 67% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Livonia, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.35 $20.35
$25.20 $25.20
-19.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.7 $84.7
$63.4 $63.4
33.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$13.16 $13.16
-7.90%
Cappuccino
$5.65 $5.65
$4.93 $4.93
14.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.53 $2.53
45.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.97 $1.97
19.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.87 $7.87
$4.87 $4.87
61.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.82 $8.82
$6.43 $6.43
37.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Livonia, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.00 $1.00
14.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.50 $3.50
5.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$5.20 $5.20
-36.35%
Eggs
$4.15 $4.15
$3.02 $3.02
37.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.98 $12.98
$10.21 $10.21
27.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.86 $13.86
$12.09 $12.09
14.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.34 $16.34
$16.30 $16.30
0.25%
Apples (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$5.37 $5.37
-12.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.59 $1.59
-8.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.11 $5.11
$8.57 $8.57
-40.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$4.26 $4.26
6.10%
Potato (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.71 $2.71
13.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.99 $2.99
-20.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 $1.80
$2.11 $2.11
-14.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.44 $2.44
-9.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97 $9.97
$10.47 $10.47
-4.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.05 $15.05
$15.24 $15.24
-1.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.93 $1.93
50.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$3.52 $3.52
-5.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Livonia, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 $1.22
$2.35 $2.35
-48.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.53 $40.53
$29.96 $29.96
35.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.07 $3.07
-9.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.57 $1.57
5.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.39 $35.39
$23.75 $23.75
49.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.11 $1.11
-14.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K $34.2K
$33.6K $33.6K
1.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$25.7K $25.7K
4.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Livonia, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 $223
$163 $163
36.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.5 $58.5
$49.02 $49.02
19.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2 $71.2
$69.6 $69.6
2.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Livonia, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.0 $53.0
$39.65 $39.65
33.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.75 $16.75
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.06 $14.06
$11.96 $11.96
17.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Livonia, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,459 $1,459
$1,380 $1,380
5.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.3K $21.3K
$31.9K $31.9K
-33.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Livonia, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5 $52.5
$59.6 $59.6
-11.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.75 $42.75
$41.13 $41.13
3.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.4 $86.4
$71.3 $71.3
21.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$118 $118
-12.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Livonia, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,112 $2,112
$1,162 $1,162
81.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,230 $1,230
$983 $983
25.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,863 $3,863
$1,573 $1,573
145.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,407 $2,407
$1,382 $1,382
74.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,426 $7,426
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,060 $3,060
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Livonia, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,179 $5,179
$4,819 $4,819
7.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
6.61
3.18%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Last update for Livonia, MI: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.2K
Livonia, MI
$983 20.1% $247
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$410
Livonia, MI
$409 0.2% $0.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$353
Livonia, MI
$282 20.1% $71
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$348
Livonia, MI
$355 2.1% $7.3
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Livonia, MI
$131 1.6% $2.1
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$81
Livonia, MI
$64 21.7% $18
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$56
Livonia, MI
$50 10.9% $6.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,112 in Austin, TX and $1,162 in Livonia, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 7% 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: $85 in Austin, TX vs $63 in Livonia, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $410 vs $409 per month, with Livonia, MI cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇺🇸 Livonia, MI
🕒 Local time
20:03 8:03 PM
21:03 9:03 PM
1 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
96,736
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Livonia, MI 1,860 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Livonia, MI

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Livonia, MI?
Livonia, MI wins on cost – living expenses run 13% 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.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Livonia, MI?
Average pay runs 7% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Livonia, MI?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,112 in Austin, TX versus $1,162 in Livonia, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Austin, TX and in Livonia, MI?
Childcare runs $1,459 in Austin, TX versus $1,380 in Livonia, MI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Austin, TX and in Livonia, MI?
Dining out is cheaper in Livonia, MI – a meal for two runs $63 versus $85 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is better for families?
For families, Livonia, MI is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Austin, TX, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Should I move to Austin, TX or to Livonia, MI?
It comes down to priorities – Livonia, MI wins on affordability, Austin, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?