😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,715 in Austin, TX versus $2,681 in Maastricht.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Austin, TX versus $3,780 in Maastricht.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,596 in Austin, TX versus $4,880 in Maastricht.
🌍Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than in Maastricht, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX98% above, Maastricht96% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.66$19.66
$20.71€18.02
-5.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6$84.6
$90.9€79.1
-6.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.30$12.30
$12.67€11.03
-2.92%
Cappuccino
$5.45$5.45
$4.59€4.00
18.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62$3.62
$3.86€3.36
-6.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41$2.41
$3.07€2.67
-21.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.91$7.91
$8.76€7.62
-9.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.89$8.89
$5.80€5.04
53.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07$1.07
$1.33€1.16
-19.55%
White Bread(500g)
$3.68$3.68
$2.48€2.16
48.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.34$3.34
$2.76€2.40
21.01%
Eggs
$4.29$4.29
$4.61€4.01
-6.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.00$13.00
$14.94€13.00
-12.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.24$14.24
$14.23€12.39
0.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.68$16.68
$16.48€14.34
1.21%
Apples(1kg)
$4.49$4.49
$2.70€2.35
66.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42$1.42
$2.63€2.29
-46.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.59$4.59
$1.96€1.70
134.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.67$4.67
$4.64€4.04
0.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.71$2.71
$2.02€1.76
34.16%
Onion(1kg)
$2.58$2.58
$2.44€2.13
5.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.89$1.89
$1.33€1.16
42.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19$2.19
$0.87€0.76
151.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.04$10.04
$14.21€12.37
-29.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.08$15.08
$6.79€5.91
122.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92$2.92
$1.58€1.38
84.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29$3.29
$2.73€2.38
20.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.53$1.53
$3.14€2.74
-51.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.52$41.52
$94.2€82.0
-55.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.70$2.70
$11.38€9.91
-76.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65$1.65
$3.42€2.98
-51.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.05$35.05
$28.97€25.21
20.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89$0.89
$2.43€2.11
-63.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K$36.4K
$43.1K€37.5K
-15.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K$27.1K
$40.9K€35.6K
-33.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$223$223
$308€268
-27.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.4$57.4
$18.02€15.68
218.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.3$68.3
$50.6€44.05
34.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.6$65.6
$48.07€41.84
36.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.61$14.61
$29.15€25.37
-49.88%
Cinema Ticket
$13.95$13.95
$16.07€13.98
-13.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,523$1,523
$1,272€1,107
19.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.4K$21.4K
$11.7K€10.2K
82.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.1$53.1
$83.3€72.5
-36.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.81$42.81
$38.70€33.68
10.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.3$85.3
$115€100
-26.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103$103
$132€114
-21.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,948$1,948
$1,335€1,162
45.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,267$1,267
$1,204€1,048
5.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,765$3,765
$2,178€1,896
72.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,553$2,553
$1,775€1,545
43.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,179$7,179
$5,469€4,760
31.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,140$3,140
$3,625€3,155
-13.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Maastricht
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,955$4,955
$3,398€2,957
45.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.47
4.42
46.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026
Last update for Maastricht: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,948 in Austin, TX and $1,335 in Maastricht. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Austin, TX pays 46% 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $91.0 in Maastricht. Groceries flip the comparison at $409 vs $347, with Maastricht 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 Maastricht: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Maastricht?
Maastricht wins on cost – living expenses run 1% 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 in Maastricht?
Average pay runs 46% 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 Maastricht?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $1,335 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 $2,715 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,681 in Maastricht – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Maastricht?
A monthly transit pass in Maastricht runs roughly 127% 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 in Maastricht?
At $2,681 in Maastricht versus $2,715 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Maastricht but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Maastricht the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Austin, TX or Maastricht?
Both work as nomad bases, but Maastricht delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,681 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 1% 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