Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Menomonie, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Menomonie, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $1,842 in Menomonie, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $2,692 in Menomonie, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $3,541 in Menomonie, WI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 48% more expensive than Menomonie, WI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Menomonie, WI 37% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$15.12 $15.12

32.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$59.3 $59.3

28.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.91 $10.91

-7.15%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.59 $4.59

19.61%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$1.28 $1.28

112.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.96 $1.96

9.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$1.96 $1.96

209.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$3.04 $3.04

164.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.87 $0.87

25.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.23 $3.23

3.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.48 $2.48

37.90%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.08 $3.08

40.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$12.29 $12.29

-3.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.97 $11.97

-10.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$15.28 $15.28

-5.10%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.57 $4.57

4.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.42 $1.42

5.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.44 $5.44

-17.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.67 $3.67

10.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.70 $2.70

2.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.91 $2.91

-4.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.01 $2.01

1.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.98 $1.98

8.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$9.87 $9.87

-6.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$11.03 $11.03

34.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.38 $2.38

-3.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.61 $2.61

35.25%

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

$4.62 $4.62

-7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.21 $2.21

-17.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$42.11 $42.11

-15.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.84 $0.84

-8.33%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$20.6K $20.6K

24.34%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.6K $25.6K

2.94%

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

$172 $172

$206 $206

-16.38%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$50.9 $50.9

18.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$76.2 $76.2

-11.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.22 $42.22

48.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$9.68 $9.68

52.17%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$492 $492

184.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$24.5K $24.5K

-11.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$60.8 $60.8

-9.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$45.18 $45.18

1.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$84.1 $84.1

3.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$105 $105

9.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$929 $929

141.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$669 $669

109.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$1,400 $1,400

170.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$1,150 $1,150

135.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$1,815 $1,815

302.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$1,817 $1,817

83.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$1,816 $1,816

170.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.2

4.03%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Menomonie, WI: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $929 in Menomonie, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 170% 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 $59 in Menomonie, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $362 per month, with Menomonie, WI 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 Menomonie, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Menomonie, WI wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Menomonie, WI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 170% 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 $929 in Menomonie, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $492 in Menomonie, WI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Menomonie, WI – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,842 in Menomonie, WI versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Menomonie, WI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Menomonie, WI 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.

Expats usually find Menomonie, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.