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: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,727 in New Braunfels, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,990 in New Braunfels, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $5,254 in New Braunfels, TX.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 2% less than in New Braunfels, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, New Braunfels, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$18.92 $18.92

3.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$66.7 $66.7

12.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.19 $10.19

-2.65%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.69 $4.69

20.90%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.83 $2.83

-2.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.10 $2.10

3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.36 $5.36

8.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$5.87 $5.87

32.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.91 $0.91

19.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.06 $3.06

11.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.16 $2.16

58.80%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.22 $3.22

36.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$12.83 $12.83

-6.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$10.05 $10.05

7.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$11.92 $11.92

19.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.20 $4.20

15.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.09 $1.09

42.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.82 $3.82

16.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.49 $2.49

57.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.88 $1.88

45.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.31 $2.31

18.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.71 $1.71

19.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.64 $1.64

37.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$6.61 $6.61

35.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$13.78 $13.78

7.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.94 $1.94

21.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.03 $2.03

75.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.97 $1.97

-25.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$155 $155

-72.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.83 $3.83

11.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$29.81 $29.81

19.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$32.3K $32.3K

-20.37%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

3.25%

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

$174 $174

$198 $198

-12.44%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$64.0 $64.0

-5.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$65.9 $65.9

0.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$32.87 $32.87

90.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$12.74 $12.74

19.62%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,069 $1,069

29.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$19.1K $19.1K

15.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$45.55 $45.55

24.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$24.69 $24.69

83.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$90.8 $90.8

-4.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$125 $125

-4.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,432 $1,432

56.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,385 $1,385

3.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,522 $2,522

49.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,347 $2,347

12.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,385 $2,385

195.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,036 $2,036

55.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$4,324 $4,324

18.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.44

0.16%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for New Braunfels, TX: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,432 in New Braunfels, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $67.0 in New Braunfels, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $319 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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in New Braunfels, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 18% 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 $1,432 in New Braunfels, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,727 in New Braunfels, TX – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 260% less than in New Braunfels, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in New Braunfels, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.