Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Media, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Media, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,990 in Media, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $4,047 in Media, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $5,103 in Media, PA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 9% less than in Media, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Media, PA 123% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$19.74 $19.74

1.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$79.7 $79.7

-4.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$11.94 $11.94

-15.16%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.13 $5.13

7.02%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.34 $2.34

16.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.03 $2.03

5.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.93 $5.93

2.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$7.43 $7.43

8.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.82 $3.82

-12.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.61 $4.61

-25.81%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.28 $4.28

0.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$13.24 $13.24

-10.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$12.23 $12.23

-12.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$15.86 $15.86

-8.58%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$6.80 $6.80

-29.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.61 $1.61

-6.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$7.16 $7.16

-37.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.38 $5.38

-24.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.28 $3.28

-15.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.98 $2.98

-6.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.57 $2.57

-20.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.53 $2.53

-15.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$12.62 $12.62

-26.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.23 $15.23

-2.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.26 $2.26

1.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.09 $4.09

-13.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.98 $1.98

-23.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$1.81 $1.81

137.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.39 $1.39

30.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$21.85 $21.85

62.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.91 $0.91

-15.38%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.8K $25.8K

-0.65%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.54%

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

$172 $172

$270 $270

-36.24%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$57.0 $57.0

5.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$77.6 $77.6

-13.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.48 $43.48

44.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$14.96 $14.96

-1.54%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,281 $1,281

9.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$33.9K $33.9K

-35.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$51.4 $51.4

7.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$41.98 $41.98

8.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$86.9 $86.9

-0.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$110 $110

5.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,770 $1,770

26.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,572 $1,572

-10.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,518 $2,518

50.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,174 $2,174

24.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,674 $2,674

173.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,344 $2,344

42.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$4,986 $4,986

-1.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.59

-2.12%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Media, PA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,770 in Media, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Media, PA pays 2% 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 $80 in Media, PA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $439 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 Media, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Media, PA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Media, PA earns 2% less. 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,770 in Media, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,281 in Media, PA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $80.0 in Media, PA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Media, PA 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Media, PA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.