Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and McHenry, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and McHenry, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,653 in McHenry, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,868 in McHenry, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $5,083 in McHenry, IL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 2% more expensive than in McHenry, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, McHenry, IL 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$15.23 $15.23

31.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$76.2 $76.2

-2.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$10.84 $10.84

-9.13%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.51 $5.51

5.08%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.61 $2.61

5.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.28 $2.28

-4.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.86 $5.86

2.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$7.07 $7.07

14.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.91 $0.91

20.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.69 $3.69

-11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$5.18 $5.18

-34.94%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.12 $4.12

4.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$13.68 $13.68

-12.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$13.53 $13.53

-21.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$16.33 $16.33

-10.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.49 $4.49

12.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.49 $1.49

5.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.96 $5.96

-26.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.74 $4.74

-14.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.63 $2.63

5.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.02 $3.02

-6.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.02 $2.02

-2.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.05 $2.05

8.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$10.10 $10.10

-13.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.78 $15.78

-6.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.29 $2.29

2.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.79 $4.79

-27.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.04 $2.04

-25.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$4.41 $4.41

-2.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.15 $2.15

-16.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$41.18 $41.18

-14.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.87 $0.87

-8.05%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.4K $25.4K

1.49%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.1K $25.1K

7.06%

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

$173 $173

$220 $220

-21.04%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$50.8 $50.8

15.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$75.1 $75.1

-10.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$42.87 $42.87

44.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$15.15 $15.15

-2.31%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,644 $1,644

-13.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$24.2K $24.2K

-8.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$49.40 $49.40

11.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$47.57 $47.57

-1.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$99.9 $99.9

-12.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$135 $135

-11.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,595 $1,595

37.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,355 $1,355

5.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,598 $2,598

45.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,254 $2,254

19.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$3,025 $3,025

142.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,486 $2,486

26.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$5,547 $5,547

-8.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.55

-1.53%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for McHenry, IL: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,595 in McHenry, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

McHenry, IL pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $76.0 in McHenry, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $419 per month, with Austin, TX 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 McHenry, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

McHenry, IL 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 McHenry, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 9% lower in McHenry, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,595 in McHenry, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $1,644 in McHenry, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in McHenry, IL – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. McHenry, IL 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.

Expats usually find McHenry, IL 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.