Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Nicholasville, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Nicholasville, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,444 in Nicholasville, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,571 in Nicholasville, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,697 in Nicholasville, KY.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 10% more expensive than in Nicholasville, KY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Nicholasville, KY 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$14.26 $14.26

38.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$57.9 $57.9

44.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$8.74 $8.74

40.73%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.99 $4.99

9.82%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.33 $2.33

59.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.84 $1.84

28.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.03 $5.03

54.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.14 $6.14

48.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.79 $0.79

43.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.90 $2.90

29.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.92 $3.92

-12.50%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$3.52 $3.52

23.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$10.16 $10.16

29.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$10.22 $10.22

40.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$14.21 $14.21

21.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.34 $5.34

-15.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.73 $1.73

-16.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$7.00 $7.00

-33.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.46 $4.46

11.43%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.29 $3.29

-8.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.10 $3.10

-13.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.16 $2.16

-14.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.73 $2.73

-20.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$8.79 $8.79

7.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.56 $15.56

-2.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.72 $1.72

68.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$6.17 $6.17

-43.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.26 $2.26

-27.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$5.04 $5.04

-44.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.60 $1.60

-1.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$30.65 $30.65

14.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.88 $0.88

2.27%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$35.8K $35.8K

0.13%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.7K $25.7K

7.72%

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

$222 $222

$193 $193

14.82%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$50.8 $50.8

14.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$74.1 $74.1

-6.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$42.05 $42.05

57.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$13.29 $13.29

3.69%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$539 $539

182.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$6,617 $6,617

220.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$39.50 $39.50

38.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$48.42 $48.42

-9.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$70.2 $70.2

27.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$124 $124

-12.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,555 $1,555

24.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,309 $1,309

-3.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,522 $2,522

49.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,180 $2,180

18.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,884 $2,884

156.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,365 $2,365

35.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.15

4.72%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Nicholasville, KY: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,555 in Nicholasville, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $58.0 in Nicholasville, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $388 per month, with Nicholasville, KY 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 Nicholasville, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nicholasville, KY wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nicholasville, KY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,042 in Austin, TX and $3,666 in Nicholasville, KY to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,555 in Nicholasville, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $539 in Nicholasville, KY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Nicholasville, KY – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,444 in Nicholasville, KY versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Nicholasville, KY but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Nicholasville, KY 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Nicholasville, KY 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 Nicholasville, KY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.