😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,563 in Maastricht.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,667 in Maastricht.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,772 in Maastricht.
😐Living in Austin, TX is roughly 4% more expensive than Maastricht, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX98% above, Maastricht91% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.63$19.63
$19.71€16.97
-0.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.1$75.1
$68.3€58.8
9.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.92$9.92
$12.75€10.98
-22.20%
Cappuccino
$5.67$5.67
$4.23€3.64
34.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77$2.77
$3.47€2.99
-20.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17$2.17
$2.65€2.29
-18.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.84$5.84
$7.09€6.11
-17.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.77$7.77
$5.87€5.06
32.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09$1.09
$1.34€1.15
-18.66%
White Bread(500g)
$3.41$3.41
$2.37€2.04
43.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.43$3.43
$3.18€2.74
7.86%
Eggs
$4.39$4.39
$4.44€3.83
-1.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.95$11.95
$13.47€11.60
-11.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.76$10.76
$15.37€13.24
-29.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.29$14.29
$16.62€14.31
-14.02%
Apples(1kg)
$4.84$4.84
$2.32€1.99
108.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55$1.55
$2.48€2.13
-37.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.46$4.46
$1.99€1.72
124.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.91$3.91
$3.71€3.19
5.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$2.06€1.78
33.01%
Onion(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$1.99€1.71
37.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04$2.04
$1.29€1.11
58.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.25$2.25
$0.87€0.75
158.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.93$8.93
$14.21€12.23
-37.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.85$14.85
$6.92€5.96
114.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35$2.35
$1.54€1.33
52.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57$3.57
$2.82€2.43
26.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.47$1.47
$4.11€3.54
-64.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.98$42.98
$93.7€80.7
-54.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.28$4.28
$11.73€10.10
-63.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84$1.84
$2.13€1.84
-13.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.54$35.54
$29.40€25.32
20.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.72$0.72
$2.21€1.90
-67.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K$25.7K
$37.0K€31.9K
-30.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K$26.2K
$32.7K€28.2K
-20.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174$174
$348€300
-50.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.2$60.2
$25.05€21.57
140.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.3$66.3
$49.85€42.93
32.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.8$62.8
$45.81€39.45
36.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.83$9.83
$28.40€24.45
-65.39%
Cinema Ticket
$15.24$15.24
$15.26€13.14
-0.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,387$1,387
$1,569€1,351
-11.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.2K$22.2K
$8,008€6,896
176.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7$56.7
$90.6€78.0
-37.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.34$45.34
$38.00€32.72
19.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.5$86.5
$120€103
-28.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119$119
$133€114
-10.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,247$2,247
$1,321€1,138
70.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,430$1,430
$1,084€933
32.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,778$3,778
$2,289€1,971
65.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,641$2,641
$1,746€1,503
51.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,044$7,044
$5,552€4,781
26.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,162$3,162
$3,719€3,202
-14.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,108$5,108
$3,423€2,948
49.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
4.34
48.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026
Last update for Maastricht: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,321 in Maastricht. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Austin, TX pays 49% 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 $68.0 in Maastricht for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $340 per month, with Maastricht 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 Maastricht: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Maastricht?
Maastricht wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Maastricht the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or Maastricht?
Austin, TX pays 49% more on average, 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 vs Maastricht?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,321 in Maastricht. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Maastricht?
All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,563 in Maastricht – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX vs Maastricht?
A monthly transit pass in Maastricht runs roughly 118% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or Maastricht?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Maastricht is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Austin, TX or Maastricht?
Both work as nomad bases, but Maastricht delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,563 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Maastricht hard to pass up.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Maastricht?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Maastricht are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Maastricht gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared