Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Oak Lawn, IL

For one person, living costs are similar in Austin, TX and in Oak Lawn, IL: $2,698 and $2,586 a month, rent and utilities included.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,698
/mo nomad
Oak Lawn, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,586
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Oak Lawn, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Oak Lawn, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,698 in Austin, TX versus $2,586 in Oak Lawn, IL.

  • Austin, TX $2,698
  • Oak Lawn, IL $2,586

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,160 in Austin, TX versus $3,492 in Oak Lawn, IL.

  • Austin, TX $4,160
  • Oak Lawn, IL $3,492

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,622 in Austin, TX versus $4,398 in Oak Lawn, IL.

  • Austin, TX $5,622
  • Oak Lawn, IL $4,398

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 4% more expensive than in Oak Lawn, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 99% above, Oak Lawn, IL 91% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Oak Lawn, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.63 $20.63
$15.26 $15.26
35.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$62.8 $62.8
34.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.07 $12.07
$7.77 $7.77
55.34%
Cappuccino
$5.48 $5.48
$5.43 $5.43
0.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 $3.80
$2.16 $2.16
75.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.13 $1.13
118.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$5.14 $5.14
56.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.88 $8.88
$5.15 $5.15
72.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Oak Lawn, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$0.93 $0.93
19.35%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.37 $2.37
56.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$3.41 $3.41
-1.17%
Eggs
$4.32 $4.32
$3.76 $3.76
14.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.13 $13.13
$11.16 $11.16
17.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.15 $14.15
$8.61 $8.61
64.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.33 $16.33
$13.18 $13.18
23.90%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$3.25 $3.25
40.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.95 $1.95
-25.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$3.26 $3.26
44.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.29 $3.29
26.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.15 $2.15
20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.11 $1.11
111.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.06 $2.06
-14.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.04 $2.04
4.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.10 $10.10
$9.87 $9.87
2.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.96 $9.96
52.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.06 $2.06
36.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.32 $3.32
3.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Oak Lawn, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.05 $2.05
-24.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.99 $40.99
$49.95 $49.95
-17.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.80 $2.80
$5.38 $5.38
-47.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 $1.60
$2.82 $2.82
-43.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.34 $34.34
$17.46 $17.46
96.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.12 $1.12
-16.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K $34.0K
$15.9K $15.9K
113.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$27.0K $27.0K
-1.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Oak Lawn, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 $223
$220 $220
1.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$53.0 $53.0
11.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6 $70.6
$66.1 $66.1
6.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Oak Lawn, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 $57.7
$42.21 $42.21
36.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.53 $16.53
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.26 $14.26
$20.35 $20.35
-29.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Oak Lawn, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,511 $1,511
$1,336 $1,336
13.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K $20.9K
$12.6K $12.6K
65.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Oak Lawn, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
$47.58 $47.58
7.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.17 $44.17
$25.39 $25.39
73.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.0 $87.0
$58.0 $58.0
50.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$50.8 $50.8
105.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Oak Lawn, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,940 $1,940
$1,601 $1,601
21.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 $1,316
$1,432 $1,432
-8.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$2,851 $2,851
28.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,565 $2,565
$1,945 $1,945
31.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,354 $7,354
$2,575 $2,575
185.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,129 $3,129
$2,733 $2,733
14.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Oak Lawn, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,286 $5,286
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
6.82
-0.44%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Last update for Oak Lawn, IL: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Oak Lawn, IL
$1.4K 8.8% $115
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$406
Oak Lawn, IL
$313 22.8% $92
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$352
Oak Lawn, IL
$339 3.7% $13
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$350
Oak Lawn, IL
$260 25.8% $90
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Oak Lawn, IL
$82 36.6% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Oak Lawn, IL
$83 3.8% $3.3
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$58
Oak Lawn, IL
$78 34% $20

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,940 in Austin, TX and $1,601 in Oak Lawn, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $63.0 in Oak Lawn, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $313 per month, with Oak Lawn, IL cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇺🇸 Oak Lawn, IL
🕒 Local time
22:56 10:56 PM
22:56 10:56 PM
Same time as Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
58,362
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Oak Lawn, IL 1,550 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Oak Lawn, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Oak Lawn, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Oak Lawn, IL?
Oak Lawn, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Oak Lawn, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Oak Lawn, IL?
You'd need roughly $4,046 in Austin, TX and $3,879 in Oak Lawn, IL 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Oak Lawn, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,940 in Austin, TX versus $1,601 in Oak Lawn, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Oak Lawn, IL?
All in, you'll spend $2,698 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,586 in Oak Lawn, IL – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Oak Lawn, IL?
A monthly transit pass in Oak Lawn, IL runs roughly 22% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Austin, TX or in Oak Lawn, IL?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Oak Lawn, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Oak Lawn, IL?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Oak Lawn, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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