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: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,094 in Moline, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,061 in Moline, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,027 in Moline, IL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 27% more expensive than Moline, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Moline, IL 56% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$15.29 $15.29

28.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$75.9 $75.9

-0.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$8.45 $8.45

17.40%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.87 $4.87

16.43%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.70 $2.70

2.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.52 $1.52

42.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$3.89 $3.89

50.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$4.11 $4.11

89.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.86 $0.86

26.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.67 $3.67

-7.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.21 $5.21

-34.17%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.09 $4.09

7.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$13.70 $13.70

-12.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$7.87 $7.87

36.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$11.82 $11.82

20.90%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.37 $4.37

10.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.47 $1.47

5.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.65 $4.65

-4.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.74 $4.74

-17.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.67 $2.67

2.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.94 $2.94

-6.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.95 $1.95

4.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.01 $2.01

11.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$10.13 $10.13

-11.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.93 $14.93

-0.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.75 $1.75

34.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$1.83 $1.83

95.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.96 $1.96

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$31.81 $31.81

35.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$4.59 $4.59

-6.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.59 $1.59

15.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$41.37 $41.37

-14.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.89 $0.89

-19.10%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.4K $25.4K

1.07%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

9.80%

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

$174 $174

$218 $218

-20.26%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$50.0 $50.0

20.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$73.8 $73.8

-10.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.60 $43.60

43.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$38.92 $38.92

-74.74%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$15.30 $15.30

-0.39%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,597 $1,597

-13.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$24.0K $24.0K

-7.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$67.0 $67.0

-15.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$47.45 $47.45

-4.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$90.0 $90.0

-3.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$81.7 $81.7

45.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$961 $961

133.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$933 $933

53.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,420 $1,420

165.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,362 $1,362

93.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$1,328 $1,328

430.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$1,339 $1,339

136.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Moline, IL: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $961 in Moline, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $76.0 in Moline, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $360, with Moline, IL cheaper for home cooking.

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 27% 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 $3,989 in Austin, TX and $3,141 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $961 in Moline, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,094 in Moline, IL – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Moline, IL runs roughly 35% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,094 in Moline, IL versus $2,659 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 27% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.