Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Muskegon, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Muskegon, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $1,619 in Muskegon, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $2,492 in Muskegon, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $3,365 in Muskegon, MI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 66% more expensive than in Muskegon, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Muskegon, MI 18% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$15.03 $15.03

31.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$59.3 $59.3

41.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$8.74 $8.74

40.73%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.11 $5.11

7.24%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.26 $2.26

64.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.78 $1.78

32.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.97 $5.97

29.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$5.84 $5.84

56.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.81 $0.81

39.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.76 $2.76

35.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.07 $3.07

11.73%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$1.94 $1.94

124.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$9.00 $9.00

46.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$13.09 $13.09

9.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$14.44 $14.44

19.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$6.97 $6.97

-35.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.32 $1.32

9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$3.66 $3.66

27.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.02 $3.02

64.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.42 $2.42

23.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.60 $2.60

3.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.40 $2.40

-22.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.01 $2.01

8.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$9.19 $9.19

2.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$5.90 $5.90

156.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.10 $2.10

37.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.25 $2.25

55.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.95 $2.95

-4.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$26.25 $26.25

34.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.89 $0.89

1.12%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$35.8K $35.8K

0.25%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$24.8K $24.8K

11.41%

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

$222 $222

$132 $132

67.66%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$29.60 $29.60

96.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$58.4 $58.4

18.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$31.95 $31.95

107.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$5.07 $5.07

191.12%

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$11.93 $11.93

15.51%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$2,021 $2,021

-24.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$19.9K $19.9K

6.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$26.15 $26.15

108.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$30.26 $30.26

45.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$88.7 $88.7

1.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$92.3 $92.3

17.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$840 $840

131.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$606 $606

107.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$1,685 $1,685

123.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,116 $1,116

132.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,813 $1,813

308.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$1,775 $1,775

80.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$3,662 $3,662

38.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.08

5.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Muskegon, MI: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $840 in Muskegon, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 39% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $59.0 in Muskegon, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $337 per month, with Muskegon, MI 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 Muskegon, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muskegon, MI wins on cost – living expenses run 66% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Muskegon, MI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 39% 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $840 in Muskegon, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $2,021 in Muskegon, MI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Muskegon, MI – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,619 in Muskegon, MI versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Muskegon, MI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Muskegon, MI 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 Muskegon, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.