Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Olathe, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Olathe, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $1,966 in Olathe, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,027 in Olathe, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,087 in Olathe, KS.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 35% more expensive than Olathe, KS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Olathe, KS 47% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$14.11 $14.11

39.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$58.3 $58.3

28.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$8.81 $8.81

12.60%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$3.56 $3.56

59.27%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$1.03 $1.03

168.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.58 $1.58

37.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.07 $5.07

15.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$5.85 $5.85

32.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.83 $0.83

31.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$1.81 $1.81

88.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.47 $2.47

38.87%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.66 $3.66

19.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$7.67 $7.67

55.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$9.10 $9.10

18.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$13.18 $13.18

8.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$3.63 $3.63

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.36 $1.36

13.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.64 $2.64

68.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.75 $3.75

4.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.85 $1.85

48.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.40 $3.40

-19.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.80 $1.80

13.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.87 $1.87

20.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$10.12 $10.12

-11.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$9.69 $9.69

53.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.73 $1.73

35.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$1.62 $1.62

120.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.01 $2.01

-26.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$6.72 $6.72

-36.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.33 $1.33

38.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$34.99 $34.99

1.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.81 $0.81

-11.11%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$20.5K $20.5K

25.53%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$23.0K $23.0K

13.76%

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

$174 $174

$112 $112

55.15%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$41.77 $41.77

44.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$42.68 $42.68

55.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$55.5 $55.5

13.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$11.88 $11.88

28.28%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$809 $809

71.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

-6.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$40.47 $40.47

40.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$29.49 $29.49

53.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$86.4 $86.4

0.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$95.3 $95.3

24.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,069 $1,069

110.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,022 $1,022

39.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,210 $2,210

70.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,948 $1,948

35.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$867 $867

264.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$5,650 $5,650

-9.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.54

-1.38%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Olathe, KS: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,069 in Olathe, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Olathe, KS pays 11% 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 $58.0 in Olathe, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $288 per month, with Olathe, KS 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 Olathe, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Olathe, KS wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Olathe, KS the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Olathe, KS earns 11% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,069 in Olathe, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $809 in Olathe, KS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Olathe, KS – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,966 in Olathe, KS versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Olathe, KS but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Olathe, KS 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 Olathe, KS 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 Olathe, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.