Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Plainfield, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Plainfield, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,707 in Austin, TX versus $2,656 in Plainfield, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,158 in Austin, TX versus $3,765 in Plainfield, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,608 in Austin, TX versus $4,874 in Plainfield, IL.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 101% above, Plainfield, IL 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.50 $19.50

$15.07 $15.07

29.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.3 $75.3

$88.3 $88.3

-14.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 $9.88

$11.67 $11.67

-15.34%

Cappuccino

$5.74 $5.74

$5.31 $5.31

8.10%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.82 $2.82

-1.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.30 $2.30

-7.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$6.13 $6.13

-0.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 $7.86

$7.91 $7.91

-0.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.77 $0.77

41.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.67 $2.67

28.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.24 $3.24

2.16%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$5.10 $5.10

-15.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.98 $11.98

$8.63 $8.63

38.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.74 $10.74

$8.73 $8.73

23.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$13.66 $13.66

8.27%

Apples (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$4.52 $4.52

10.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.71 $1.71

-12.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$2.95 $2.95

50.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.46 $3.46

14.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.26 $2.26

21.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.37 $2.37

15.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.95 $1.95

4.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.51 $1.51

49.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.09 $9.09

$8.24 $8.24

10.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$10.20 $10.20

46.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.14 $2.14

9.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.03 $3.03

16.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.98 $1.98

-24.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.05 $44.05

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 $4.47

$3.55 $3.55

25.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.23 $2.23

-21.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.44 $34.44

$28.66 $28.66

20.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.97 $0.97

-23.71%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$24.7K $24.7K

3.66%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$23.0K $23.0K

15.82%

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

$172 $172

0.31%

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

$59.3 $59.3

$42.21 $42.21

40.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$51.7 $51.7

28.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.1 $63.1

$43.27 $43.27

45.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$15.28 $15.28

$11.17 $11.17

36.79%

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

$1,406 $1,406

$1,214 $1,214

15.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$23.9K $23.9K

-8.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$44.16 $44.16

27.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.72 $45.72

$40.31 $40.31

13.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$66.2 $66.2

29.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$158 $158

-25.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,196 $2,196

$1,594 $1,594

37.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 $1,434

$1,630 $1,630

-12.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,878 $3,878

$2,376 $2,376

63.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,610 $2,610

$2,361 $2,361

10.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,228 $7,228

$2,383 $2,383

203.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,282 $3,282

$2,307 $2,307

42.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,984 $4,984

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.52

-1.07%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 13, 2026

Last update for Plainfield, IL: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,196 in Austin, TX and $1,594 in Plainfield, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $75 in Austin, TX vs $88 in Plainfield, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $315, with Plainfield, IL cheaper for home cooking.

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 Plainfield, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Plainfield, IL 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 Plainfield, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,061 in Austin, TX and $3,984 in Plainfield, 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: $2,196 in Austin, TX versus $1,594 in Plainfield, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,406 in Austin, TX versus $1,214 in Plainfield, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Plainfield, IL – a meal for two runs $88.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,656 in Plainfield, IL versus $2,707 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Plainfield, IL but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Plainfield, IL 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 Plainfield, IL 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 Plainfield, IL 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.