Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Palm Bay, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Palm Bay, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $2,345 in Palm Bay, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $3,521 in Palm Bay, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $4,698 in Palm Bay, FL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 13% more expensive than in Palm Bay, FL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Palm Bay, FL 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$25.52 $25.52

-22.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$74.5 $74.5

12.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$9.89 $9.89

24.06%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.15 $5.15

9.32%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$2.90 $2.90

23.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.01 $2.01

18.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.32 $5.32

47.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$6.61 $6.61

37.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.01 $1.01

12.87%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.90 $3.90

-6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.20 $3.20

3.44%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$3.54 $3.54

25.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$16.72 $16.72

-22.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$10.50 $10.50

39.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$17.68 $17.68

-1.47%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$4.71 $4.71

-2.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.96 $1.96

-26.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$4.29 $4.29

10.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$5.52 $5.52

-10.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.97 $2.97

1.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.32 $3.32

-17.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.53 $2.53

-22.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.59 $2.59

-15.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$9.78 $9.78

-5.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$12.02 $12.02

23.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.06 $2.06

39.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.38 $3.38

6.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.97 $3.97

-28.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.89 $1.89

-15.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$24.16 $24.16

43.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.93 $0.93

2.15%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$32.8K $32.8K

8.71%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$25.8K $25.8K

3.96%

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

$229 $229

$170 $170

34.97%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$60.5 $60.5

-3.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$81.3 $81.3

-14.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$34.62 $34.62

90.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$12.95 $12.95

7.03%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$1,006 $1,006

49.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$20.6K $20.6K

1.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$54.2 $54.2

-0.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$27.68 $27.68

60.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$94.9 $94.9

-4.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$103 $103

5.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,397 $1,397

38.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,067 $1,067

18.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$1,937 $1,937

94.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$1,876 $1,876

38.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$2,472 $2,472

196.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$2,513 $2,513

28.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$3,516 $3,516

43.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.11

5.40%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Palm Bay, FL: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $1,397 in Palm Bay, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 43% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $75.0 in Palm Bay, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $410 per month, with Palm Bay, FL 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 Palm Bay, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Palm Bay, FL 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 Palm Bay, FL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 43% 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: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $1,397 in Palm Bay, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,501 in Austin, TX versus $1,006 in Palm Bay, FL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Palm Bay, FL – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,345 in Palm Bay, FL versus $2,646 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Palm Bay, FL but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Palm Bay, FL 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 Palm Bay, FL 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.