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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,651 in Paola, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,804 in Paola, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,956 in Paola, KS.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 2% more expensive than in Paola, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Paola, KS 93% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$27.24 $27.24

-27.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$60.4 $60.4

38.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.12 $11.12

10.61%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.11 $5.11

7.24%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.19 $2.19

69.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.20 $2.20

7.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$4.37 $4.37

77.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.43 $6.43

42.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.12 $1.12

0.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.34 $3.34

12.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.12 $2.12

61.79%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$3.77 $3.77

15.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$11.28 $11.28

16.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$8.81 $8.81

63.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$15.30 $15.30

12.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.13 $1.13

27.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$3.07 $3.07

52.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.37 $4.37

13.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.68 $1.68

78.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.33 $2.33

15.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.84 $1.84

0.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.01 $2.01

8.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$9.12 $9.12

3.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$13.36 $13.36

13.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.83 $1.83

57.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.42 $4.42

-21.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.83 $1.83

-10.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.05 $3.05

-7.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.46 $1.46

8.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$35.36 $35.36

-0.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.87 $0.87

3.45%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$35.2K $35.2K

1.83%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$26.6K $26.6K

3.93%

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

$222 $222

$273 $273

-18.62%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$58.5 $58.5

-0.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$71.5 $71.5

-3.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$41.73 $41.73

58.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$12.08 $12.08

14.07%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$754 $754

102.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$22.3K $22.3K

-4.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$73.3 $73.3

-25.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$37.39 $37.39

17.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$78.2 $78.2

14.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$126 $126

-13.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,499 $1,499

29.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,310 $1,310

-3.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,760 $2,760

36.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,235 $2,235

15.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,593 $2,593

185.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,425 $2,425

32.08%

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 Paola, KS: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,499 in Paola, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $60.0 in Paola, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $341 per month, with Paola, 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 Paola, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Paola, KS wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Paola, KS the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,042 in Austin, TX and $3,977 in Paola, KS 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 $1,499 in Paola, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $754 in Paola, KS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Paola, KS – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Paola, KS 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Paola, 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 Paola, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.