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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,149 in Moline, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,109 in Moline, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,068 in Moline, IL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 26% more expensive than in Moline, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Moline, IL 61% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$15.05 $15.05

30.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$73.9 $73.9

2.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$8.33 $8.33

18.37%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.14 $5.14

6.61%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.72 $2.72

-2.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.51 $1.51

38.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$3.89 $3.89

56.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$4.07 $4.07

100.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.89 $0.89

23.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.66 $3.66

-7.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$5.34 $5.34

-36.70%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.99 $3.99

10.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$13.68 $13.68

-11.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$8.07 $8.07

34.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$11.60 $11.60

26.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.42 $4.42

12.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.40 $1.40

7.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.62 $4.62

-4.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.74 $4.74

-13.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.64 $2.64

6.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.99 $2.99

-4.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.98 $1.98

10.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$9.81 $9.81

-8.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.13 $15.13

-0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.70 $1.70

37.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.83 $1.83

87.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.98 $1.98

-22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$32.41 $32.41

36.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.37 $4.37

0.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.56 $1.56

17.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$41.74 $41.74

-16.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.82 $0.82

-4.88%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

2.65%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$23.5K $23.5K

10.08%

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

$175 $175

$214 $214

-18.53%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$50.0 $50.0

19.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$73.8 $73.8

-11.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$42.38 $42.38

44.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

$39.35 $39.35

-74.87%

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$14.92 $14.92

-1.07%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,605 $1,605

-14.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$24.3K $24.3K

-8.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$66.2 $66.2

-14.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$47.95 $47.95

-5.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$90.3 $90.3

-5.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$81.8 $81.8

44.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$979 $979

124.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$916 $916

53.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$1,462 $1,462

160.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$1,352 $1,352

98.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$1,315 $1,315

442.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$1,327 $1,327

131.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

5.56

16.01%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Moline, IL: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $979 in Moline, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $74.0 in Moline, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $360 per month, with Moline, IL 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 Moline, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moline, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Moline, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,059 in Austin, TX and $3,224 in Moline, IL 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $979 in Moline, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,149 in Moline, IL – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Moline, IL runs roughly 36% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,149 in Moline, IL versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Moline, IL but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Moline, IL 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 Moline, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.