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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,502 in Oak Lawn, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,708 in Oak Lawn, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,913 in Oak Lawn, IL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 8% more expensive than in Oak Lawn, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Oak Lawn, IL 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$20.36 $20.36

-2.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$70.2 $70.2

19.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$9.84 $9.84

25.00%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.94 $4.94

10.93%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.94 $2.94

26.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.03 $2.03

16.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.11 $6.11

27.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$7.29 $7.29

25.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.88 $0.88

28.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.21 $3.21

16.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.39 $3.39

1.18%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.43 $4.43

-1.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$10.06 $10.06

30.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$8.58 $8.58

67.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$13.12 $13.12

31.10%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.35 $3.35

34.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.45 $1.45

-0.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$3.32 $3.32

40.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.23 $3.23

53.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.24 $2.24

33.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.13 $1.13

138.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.05 $2.05

-9.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.06 $2.06

5.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$10.03 $10.03

-5.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$9.96 $9.96

51.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.09 $2.09

38.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.70 $3.70

-5.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.99 $1.99

-17.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

$49.89 $49.89

-18.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.75 $2.75

2.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.63 $1.63

-3.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$21.39 $21.39

64.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.95 $0.95

-5.26%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$15.8K $15.8K

127.09%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$24.8K $24.8K

11.33%

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

$222 $222

$199 $199

11.53%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$67.7 $67.7

-13.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$71.5 $71.5

-3.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$41.42 $41.42

59.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$14.06 $14.06

-1.99%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,789 $1,789

-14.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$24.7K $24.7K

-14.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$55.1 $55.1

-1.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$45.07 $45.07

-2.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$94.9 $94.9

-5.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$117 $117

-7.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,613 $1,613

20.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,263 $1,263

-0.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,839 $2,839

32.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,000 $2,000

29.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$3,155 $3,155

134.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,627 $2,627

21.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.12

5.23%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Oak Lawn, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,613 in Oak Lawn, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $70.0 in Oak Lawn, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $319 per month, with Oak Lawn, IL 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 Oak Lawn, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Oak Lawn, IL 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 Oak Lawn, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,042 in Austin, TX and $3,752 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,613 in Oak Lawn, IL. 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 $2,502 in Oak Lawn, IL – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Oak Lawn, IL runs roughly 23% 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 $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.

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 Oak Lawn, IL 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.