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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $1,652 in Murphysboro, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $2,481 in Murphysboro, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $3,311 in Murphysboro, IL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 64% more expensive than in Murphysboro, IL, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Murphysboro, IL 24% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$18.35 $18.35

8.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$80.0 $80.0

-6.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$10.14 $10.14

-2.86%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.87 $5.87

-1.36%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.91 $2.91

-5.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.48 $2.48

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$6.33 $6.33

-5.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$8.19 $8.19

-0.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.87 $0.87

26.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$1.88 $1.88

74.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$4.40 $4.40

-23.41%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$3.92 $3.92

9.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$12.15 $12.15

-1.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$9.92 $9.92

6.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$14.81 $14.81

-1.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.34 $4.34

16.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.42 $1.42

10.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.81 $5.81

-24.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$5.24 $5.24

-22.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.08 $1.08

156.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.85 $1.85

52.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.50 $1.50

30.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$0.78 $0.78

185.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$8.87 $8.87

-1.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$9.88 $9.88

48.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.08 $2.08

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.01 $4.01

-13.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.03 $2.03

-25.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$4.85 $4.85

-11.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.58 $1.58

13.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$20.75 $20.75

69.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.79 $0.79

1.27%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$32.0K $32.0K

-19.48%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.9K $26.9K

-0.33%

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

$173 $173

$192 $192

-9.56%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$33.60 $33.60

74.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$35.67 $35.67

88.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$42.37 $42.37

45.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$8.63 $8.63

71.49%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,241 $1,241

13.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$31.0K $31.0K

-28.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$32.94 $32.94

66.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$35.44 $35.44

31.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$91.5 $91.5

-4.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$114 $114

4.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$671 $671

227.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$559 $559

155.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$907 $907

315.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$783 $783

245.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$907 $907

708.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$997 $997

214.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$2,546 $2,546

100.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.52

-1.07%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Murphysboro, IL: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $671 in Murphysboro, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 100% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $80.0 in Murphysboro, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $331, with Murphysboro, 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 Murphysboro, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Murphysboro, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 64% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Murphysboro, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 100% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $671 in Murphysboro, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $1,241 in Murphysboro, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Murphysboro, IL – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,652 in Murphysboro, IL versus $2,701 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Murphysboro, IL but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Murphysboro, 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 Murphysboro, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.