Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Parker, CO

For one person, living costs are similar in Austin, TX and in Parker, CO: $2,607 and $2,615 a month, rent and utilities included.

Austin, TX, United States
Parker, CO, United States
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,607
/mo nomad
Parker, CO
🇺🇸 United States
$2,615
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Parker, CO

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 Parker, CO actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,607 in Austin, TX versus $2,615 in Parker, CO.

  • Austin, TX $2,607
  • Parker, CO $2,615

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,031 in Austin, TX versus $3,880 in Parker, CO.

  • Austin, TX $4,031
  • Parker, CO $3,880

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,454 in Austin, TX versus $5,144 in Parker, CO.

  • Austin, TX $5,454
  • Parker, CO $5,144

Monthly costs are close between Austin, TX and Parker, CO; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Parker, CO 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Parker, CO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.35 $20.35
$20.03 $20.03
1.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.7 $84.7
$79.0 $79.0
7.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$11.08 $11.08
9.39%
Cappuccino
$5.65 $5.65
$5.75 $5.75
-1.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.53 $2.53
45.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.06 $2.06
14.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.87 $7.87
$5.92 $5.92
32.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.82 $8.82
$7.05 $7.05
25.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Parker, CO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$0.88 $0.88
29.55%
White Bread (500g)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.92 $2.92
26.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$2.78 $2.78
19.06%
Eggs
$4.15 $4.15
$4.33 $4.33
-4.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.98 $12.98
$8.62 $8.62
50.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.86 $13.86
$9.52 $9.52
45.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.34 $16.34
$15.37 $15.37
6.31%
Apples (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$4.84 $4.84
-3.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.24 $1.24
16.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.11 $5.11
$4.66 $4.66
9.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$5.31 $5.31
-14.88%
Potato (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$1.60 $1.60
92.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.38 $2.38
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.93 $1.93
-6.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.71 $1.71
29.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97 $9.97
$10.32 $10.32
-3.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.05 $15.05
$15.02 $15.02
0.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.52 $2.52
15.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$2.61 $2.61
27.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Parker, CO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 $1.22
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.53 $40.53
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.44 $2.44
13.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.83 $1.83
-9.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.39 $35.39
$24.58 $24.58
43.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.85 $0.85
11.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K $34.2K
$28.5K $28.5K
19.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$25.3K $25.3K
5.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Parker, CO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 $223
$215 $215
3.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.5 $58.5
$56.9 $56.9
2.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2 $71.2
$70.3 $70.3
1.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Parker, CO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.0 $53.0
$64.1 $64.1
-17.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.75 $16.75
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.06 $14.06
$10.80 $10.80
30.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Parker, CO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,459 $1,459
$1,111 $1,111
31.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.3K $21.3K
$12.6K $12.6K
69.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Parker, CO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5 $52.5
$58.4 $58.4
-10.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.75 $42.75
$40.31 $40.31
6.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.4 $86.4
$79.9 $79.9
8.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$115 $115
-10.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Parker, CO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,112 $2,112
$1,599 $1,599
32.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,230 $1,230
$1,370 $1,370
-10.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,863 $3,863
$2,662 $2,662
45.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,407 $2,407
$2,407 $2,407
0.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,426 $7,426
$3,474 $3,474
113.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,060 $3,060
$3,104 $3,104
-1.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Parker, CO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,179 $5,179
$6,415 $6,415
-19.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
6.38
6.90%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Last update for Parker, CO: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.2K
Parker, CO
$1.4K 11.4% $140
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$410
Parker, CO
$348 15% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$353
Parker, CO
$342 3% $11
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$348
Parker, CO
$325 6.8% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Parker, CO
$132 3% $3.8
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$81
Parker, CO
$86 5.6% $4.5
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$56
Parker, CO
$12 * 79.5% $45

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,112 in Austin, TX and $1,599 in Parker, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Parker, CO pays 24% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $85 in Austin, TX vs $79 in Parker, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $410 vs $348 per month, with Parker, CO cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇺🇸 Parker, CO
🕒 Local time
13:48 1:48 PM
12:48 12:48 PM
1 h behind Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
49,550
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Parker, CO 1,210 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Parker, CO

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 Parker, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Parker, CO?
On paper, salaries run 19% lower in Austin, TX. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Parker, CO?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,112 in Austin, TX versus $1,599 in Parker, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Austin, TX or in Parker, CO?
Shoppers in Parker, CO pay roughly 15% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Austin, TX and in Parker, CO?
Dining out is cheaper in Parker, CO – a meal for two runs $79 versus $85 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Parker, CO?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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 Parker, CO?
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.
Should I move to Austin, TX or to Parker, CO?
It comes down to priorities – Austin, TX wins on affordability, Parker, CO on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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