Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Long Island, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Long Island, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,732 in Austin, TX versus $3,552 in Long Island, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,139 in Austin, TX versus $5,146 in Long Island, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,545 in Austin, TX versus $6,739 in Long Island, NY.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 23% less than in Long Island, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 105% above, Long Island, NY 167% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$19.91 $19.91

-2.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$99.2 $99.2

-23.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 $9.89

$13.36 $13.36

-25.97%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.69 $4.69

17.06%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$2.45 $2.45

9.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.72 $1.72

23.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$6.83 $6.83

-13.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$7.80 $7.80

0.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.20 $1.20

-4.17%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.72 $3.72

-10.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$5.01 $5.01

-30.54%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$4.71 $4.71

-6.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.79 $11.79

$17.37 $17.37

-32.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 $10.65

$11.94 $11.94

-10.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.63 $15.63

-5.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.83 $4.83

-0.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.71 $1.71

-8.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.03 $4.03

8.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$4.09 $4.09

-1.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.74 $2.74

-1.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.93 $3.93

-27.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.22 $2.22

-8.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.33 $2.33

-3.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.78 $8.78

$12.20 $12.20

-28.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.03 $15.03

$15.30 $15.30

-1.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.75 $1.75

30.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.96 $3.96

-12.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.88 $2.88

-46.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.99 $43.99

$129 $129

-65.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.30 $4.30

$3.07 $3.07

40.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.03 $2.03

-10.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$24.37 $24.37

44.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.88 $0.88

-17.05%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$23.6K $23.6K

9.72%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$24.5K $24.5K

8.09%

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

$172 $172

$127 $127

35.53%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$45.45 $45.45

28.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 $66.1

$60.6 $60.6

9.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 $63.6

$33.68 $33.68

88.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.15 $10.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$13.12 $13.12

14.71%

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

$1,399 $1,399

$2,288 $2,288

-38.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$24.0K $24.0K

-8.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$39.43 $39.43

43.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.66 $46.66

$63.3 $63.3

-26.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 $86.4

$73.7 $73.7

17.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$130 $130

-8.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$2,298 $2,298

-3.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,399 $1,399

$2,224 $2,224

-37.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,821 $3,821

$4,021 $4,021

-4.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$3,494 $3,494

-24.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,237 $7,237

$4,249 $4,249

70.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,127 $3,127

$4,271 $4,271

-26.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,009 $5,009

$5,059 $5,059

-0.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.44

0.16%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 26, 2026

Last update for Long Island, NY: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,228 in Austin, TX and $2,298 in Long Island, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Long Island, NY pays 1% 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 $99.0 in Long Island, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $378 vs $418 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 Long Island, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Long Island, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Long Island, NY. 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: $2,228 in Austin, TX versus $2,298 in Long Island, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,732 per month in Austin, TX versus $3,552 in Long Island, NY – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 193% less than in Long Island, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Austin, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,732 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Austin, TX hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Long Island, NY 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Long Island, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.