Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Murfreesboro, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Murfreesboro, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,346 in Murfreesboro, TN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,399 in Murfreesboro, TN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,452 in Murfreesboro, TN.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 13% more expensive than Murfreesboro, TN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Murfreesboro, TN 75% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$18.18 $18.18

7.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$60.1 $60.1

25.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$9.94 $9.94

-0.20%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.91 $4.91

15.48%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.06 $2.06

34.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.96 $1.96

10.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$3.92 $3.92

48.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.04 $6.04

28.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.92 $0.92

18.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$1.74 $1.74

95.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.17 $2.17

58.06%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.69 $3.69

18.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$9.91 $9.91

20.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$8.96 $8.96

20.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$16.07 $16.07

-11.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$5.70 $5.70

-15.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.06 $1.06

46.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.67 $2.67

67.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.91 $4.91

-20.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.72 $1.72

59.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.78 $2.78

-1.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.05 $2.05

-0.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.66 $1.66

35.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$8.64 $8.64

3.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.72 $14.72

0.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.70 $1.70

38.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.90 $2.90

23.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.81 $1.81

-18.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$38.04 $38.04

12.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$5.04 $5.04

-15.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.62 $1.62

13.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$30.27 $30.27

17.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.81 $0.81

-11.11%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.1K $30.1K

-14.64%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.42%

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

$174 $174

$239 $239

-27.44%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$42.69 $42.69

41.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$67.6 $67.6

-1.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$24.73 $24.73

153.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$30.42 $30.42

-67.69%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$14.66 $14.66

3.96%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,126 $1,126

23.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$20.8K $20.8K

6.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$55.1 $55.1

2.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$60.5 $60.5

-25.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$109 $109

-20.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$121 $121

-1.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,416 $1,416

58.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,150 $1,150

24.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$4,785 $4,785

-21.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,880 $1,880

40.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,824 $2,824

149.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,826 $2,826

11.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$4,242 $4,242

20.41%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Murfreesboro, TN: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,416 in Murfreesboro, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 20% 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $60.0 in Murfreesboro, TN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $325 per month, with Murfreesboro, TN 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 Murfreesboro, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Murfreesboro, TN wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Murfreesboro, TN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 20% 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,416 in Murfreesboro, TN. 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 $2,346 in Murfreesboro, TN – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Murfreesboro, TN runs roughly 13% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,346 in Murfreesboro, TN versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Murfreesboro, TN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Murfreesboro, TN 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 Murfreesboro, TN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.