Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lowell, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lowell, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,707 in Austin, TX versus $2,658 in Lowell, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,158 in Austin, TX versus $4,230 in Lowell, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,608 in Austin, TX versus $5,802 in Lowell, MA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 2% more expensive than Lowell, MA, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 101% above, Lowell, MA 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.50 $19.50

$19.12 $19.12

1.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.3 $75.3

$80.8 $80.8

-6.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 $9.88

$8.88 $8.88

11.26%

Cappuccino

$5.74 $5.74

$4.48 $4.48

28.12%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.04 $2.04

36.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.66 $1.66

28.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$5.94 $5.94

2.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 $7.86

$7.66 $7.66

2.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.87 $0.87

25.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.15 $2.15

60.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.12 $3.12

6.09%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$3.90 $3.90

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.98 $11.98

$10.64 $10.64

12.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.74 $10.74

$8.87 $8.87

21.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$21.05 $21.05

-29.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$2.79 $2.79

79.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.16 $1.16

28.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$5.85 $5.85

-24.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$5.77 $5.77

-31.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.60 $1.60

71.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$4.34 $4.34

-37.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$3.04 $3.04

-32.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.19 $2.19

3.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.09 $9.09

$11.19 $11.19

-18.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$14.97 $14.97

0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.77 $1.77

32.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.94 $1.94

82.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.84 $1.84

-19.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.05 $44.05

$55.0 $55.0

-19.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 $4.47

$3.98 $3.98

12.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.78 $1.78

-1.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.44 $34.44

$28.64 $28.64

20.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.90 $0.90

-17.78%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$30.0K $30.0K

-14.56%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

3.18%

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

$172 $172

$185 $185

-6.93%

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

$59.3 $59.3

$52.6 $52.6

12.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$65.2 $65.2

1.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.1 $63.1

$40.05 $40.05

57.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$15.28 $15.28

$14.17 $14.17

7.83%

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

$1,406 $1,406

$1,390 $1,390

1.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$23.7K $23.7K

-7.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$51.5 $51.5

9.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.72 $45.72

$33.08 $33.08

38.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$65.0 $65.0

32.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$68.8 $68.8

70.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,196 $2,196

$1,628 $1,628

34.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 $1,434

$1,463 $1,463

-2.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,878 $3,878

$3,759 $3,759

3.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,610 $2,610

$3,167 $3,167

-17.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,228 $7,228

$3,517 $3,517

105.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,282 $3,282

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,984 $4,984

$3,931 $3,931

26.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 13, 2026

Last update for Lowell, MA: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,196 in Austin, TX and $1,628 in Lowell, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 27% 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 in Austin, TX vs $81 in Lowell, MA. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $366, with Lowell, MA 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 Lowell, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lowell, MA wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lowell, MA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 27% 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: $2,196 in Austin, TX versus $1,628 in Lowell, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,707 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,658 in Lowell, MA – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lowell, MA runs roughly 25% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Lowell, MA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Lowell, MA 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 Lowell, MA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.