Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Norman, OK Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Norman, OK

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,390 in Norman, OK.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,283 in Norman, OK.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,176 in Norman, OK.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 13% more expensive than in Norman, OK, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Norman, OK 79% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$14.77 $14.77

33.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$59.8 $59.8

27.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$11.02 $11.02

-10.53%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.66 $5.66

-3.18%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.56 $2.56

3.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.03 $2.03

2.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$6.14 $6.14

-0.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$6.07 $6.07

34.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.00 $1.00

10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.82 $2.82

20.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.93 $3.93

-13.99%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.38 $3.38

29.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$11.47 $11.47

5.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$10.99 $10.99

-1.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$13.54 $13.54

8.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.46 $4.46

11.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.60 $1.60

-5.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.30 $4.30

2.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.41 $4.41

-7.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.36 $3.36

-16.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.80 $2.80

2.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.12 $2.12

-8.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.20 $2.20

-0.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$9.04 $9.04

-0.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.91 $14.91

1.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.91 $1.91

21.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.30 $2.30

49.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.45 $2.45

-37.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.94 $2.94

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.29 $1.29

41.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$23.72 $23.72

46.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.80 $0.80

-2.50%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.5K $24.5K

6.04%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

-0.21%

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

$175 $175

$229 $229

-23.64%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$72.4 $72.4

-17.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$79.7 $79.7

-17.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$44.77 $44.77

36.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$14.84 $14.84

-0.54%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,568 $1,568

-12.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.2K $23.2K

-4.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$55.0 $55.0

2.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$38.60 $38.60

17.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$106 $106

-20.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$151 $151

-21.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,182 $1,182

86.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,114 $1,114

25.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$1,708 $1,708

123.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$1,514 $1,514

77.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$3,787 $3,787

34.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.53

-1.23%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Norman, OK: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,182 in Norman, OK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 35% 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: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $60.0 in Norman, OK for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $363 per month, with Norman, OK 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 Norman, OK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Norman, OK wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Norman, OK the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 35% 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,182 in Norman, OK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,372 in Austin, TX versus $1,568 in Norman, OK. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Norman, OK – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,390 in Norman, OK versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Norman, OK but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Norman, OK 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 Norman, OK gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.