Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Marquette, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Marquette, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $2,121 in Marquette, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $3,301 in Marquette, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $4,480 in Marquette, MI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 25% more expensive than in Marquette, MI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Marquette, MI 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$16.80 $16.80

18.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$56.9 $56.9

47.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$9.86 $9.86

24.44%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$6.16 $6.16

-8.60%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$2.47 $2.47

45.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.53 $1.53

55.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.45 $5.45

43.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$7.04 $7.04

29.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.95 $0.95

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$4.17 $4.17

-12.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.69 $3.69

-10.30%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$4.15 $4.15

6.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$11.53 $11.53

12.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$8.38 $8.38

75.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$16.98 $16.98

2.59%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$4.30 $4.30

7.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$2.30 $2.30

-36.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$4.39 $4.39

8.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.75 $4.75

4.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.88 $2.88

4.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.55 $2.55

7.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.11 $2.11

-7.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.95 $1.95

12.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$9.86 $9.86

-6.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$15.04 $15.04

-0.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.97 $1.97

45.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$1.69 $1.69

112.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.06 $2.06

-19.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.20 $3.20

-11.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.80 $1.80

-11.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$29.20 $29.20

18.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.90 $0.90

5.56%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$39.6K $39.6K

-9.75%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

6.65%

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

$229 $229

$201 $201

14.06%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$57.5 $57.5

1.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$45.09 $45.09

53.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$40.99 $40.99

60.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$10.16 $10.16

36.42%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$1,429 $1,429

5.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$20.7K $20.7K

0.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$53.2 $53.2

0.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$41.77 $41.77

6.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$89.6 $89.6

1.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$122 $122

-11.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,283 $1,283

50.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$892 $892

41.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$2,308 $2,308

63.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$1,847 $1,847

40.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$2,254 $2,254

225.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$2,250 $2,250

43.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.12

5.23%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Marquette, MI: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $1,283 in Marquette, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $57.0 in Marquette, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $376 per month, with Marquette, MI 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 Marquette, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Marquette, MI wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Marquette, MI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $3,969 in Austin, TX and $3,181 in Marquette, MI to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $1,283 in Marquette, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,501 in Austin, TX versus $1,429 in Marquette, MI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Marquette, MI – a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,121 in Marquette, MI versus $2,646 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Marquette, MI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Marquette, MI 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 Marquette, MI 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 Marquette, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.