Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Mankato, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Mankato, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,057 in Mankato, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,053 in Mankato, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,049 in Mankato, MN.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 32% more expensive than Mankato, MN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Mankato, MN 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$15.79 $15.79

26.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$70.8 $70.8

7.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$9.94 $9.94

1.91%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.10 $5.10

7.65%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.13 $2.13

27.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.68 $1.68

27.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.08 $5.08

19.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$5.95 $5.95

35.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.96 $0.96

13.54%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.57 $2.57

29.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.18 $2.18

56.88%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.44 $3.44

25.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$8.49 $8.49

38.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$14.83 $14.83

-27.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$17.14 $17.14

-15.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.50 $4.50

6.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.58 $1.58

-5.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.77 $3.77

19.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.54 $3.54

14.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$4.29 $4.29

-35.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.05 $3.05

-8.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.40 $2.40

-15.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.02 $2.02

6.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$12.14 $12.14

-23.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.02 $15.02

-1.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.74 $1.74

31.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.28 $4.28

-17.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.03 $2.03

-25.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.04 $2.04

110.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.44 $1.44

26.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$19.97 $19.97

77.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.78 $0.78

-1.28%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

-1.14%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$24.4K $24.4K

7.92%

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

$172 $172

$131 $131

31.32%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$51.8 $51.8

16.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$75.6 $75.6

-11.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$39.54 $39.54

58.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$14.98 $14.98

-1.67%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,371 $1,371

2.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$11.8K $11.8K

83.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$62.3 $62.3

-11.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$35.41 $35.41

28.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$71.6 $71.6

21.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$144 $144

-19.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$987 $987

127.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$908 $908

54.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,622 $2,622

44.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$1,476 $1,476

83.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$1,639 $1,639

345.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$1,603 $1,603

107.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$3,898 $3,898

25.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.61

-2.42%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Mankato, MN: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $987 in Mankato, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 26% 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: $76 in Austin, TX vs $71 in Mankato, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $374 per month, with Mankato, MN 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 Mankato, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mankato, MN wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mankato, MN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 26% 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $987 in Mankato, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,371 in Mankato, MN. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mankato, MN – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,057 in Mankato, MN versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mankato, MN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Mankato, MN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Mankato, MN 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 Mankato, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.