Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and New Braunfels, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and New Braunfels, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,492 in New Braunfels, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,575 in New Braunfels, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,657 in New Braunfels, TX.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 8% more expensive than in New Braunfels, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, New Braunfels, TX 81% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$14.78 $14.78

34.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$68.6 $68.6

22.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$10.67 $10.67

15.28%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.41 $5.41

1.29%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.74 $2.74

35.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.72 $1.72

37.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$4.86 $4.86

59.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$5.88 $5.88

55.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.75 $0.75

50.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.23 $3.23

16.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.03 $2.03

68.97%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$2.81 $2.81

54.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$11.90 $11.90

10.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$9.36 $9.36

53.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$12.46 $12.46

38.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$6.16 $6.16

-27.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.22 $1.22

18.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$3.36 $3.36

38.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.78 $3.78

31.48%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.36 $2.36

27.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.89 $2.89

-6.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.86 $1.86

-0.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.69 $1.69

28.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$6.28 $6.28

50.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$13.83 $13.83

9.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.69 $1.69

71.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.78 $3.78

-7.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

$151 $151

-73.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$9.95 $9.95

-71.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.91 $1.91

-17.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$30.47 $30.47

15.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.81 $0.81

11.11%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$36.1K $36.1K

-0.60%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.3K $25.3K

9.25%

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

$222 $222

$181 $181

22.34%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$37.58 $37.58

55.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$51.1 $51.1

35.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$33.30 $33.30

98.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$11.63 $11.63

18.49%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$880 $880

73.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$17.9K $17.9K

18.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$56.8 $56.8

-4.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$25.08 $25.08

75.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$83.4 $83.4

7.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$120 $120

-9.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,569 $1,569

23.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,277 $1,277

-1.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,263 $2,263

66.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,039 $2,039

27.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,365 $2,365

213.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,745 $2,745

16.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$4,264 $4,264

19.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.03

6.80%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for New Braunfels, TX: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,569 in New Braunfels, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 19% 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 $69.0 in New Braunfels, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $334 per month, with New Braunfels, TX 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 New Braunfels, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New Braunfels, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making New Braunfels, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 19% 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 $1,569 in New Braunfels, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,695 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,492 in New Braunfels, TX – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in New Braunfels, TX runs roughly 272% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. New Braunfels, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and New Braunfels, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find New Braunfels, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.