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: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,688 in Plainfield, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,827 in Plainfield, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,966 in Plainfield, IL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than in Plainfield, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Plainfield, IL 101% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$15.15 $15.15

30.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$87.5 $87.5

-13.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$11.44 $11.44

-13.81%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.57 $5.57

-1.62%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.68 $2.68

-1.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.42 $2.42

-13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$6.13 $6.13

-0.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$8.11 $8.11

0.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.76 $0.76

44.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.72 $2.72

24.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.33 $3.33

1.50%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.97 $4.97

-11.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$8.72 $8.72

38.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$8.72 $8.72

24.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$13.68 $13.68

7.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.48 $4.48

10.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.70 $1.70

-11.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$2.96 $2.96

48.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.57 $3.57

14.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.15 $2.15

30.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.43 $2.43

18.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.04 $2.04

-4.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.47 $1.47

48.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$8.17 $8.17

10.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$10.13 $10.13

49.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.17 $2.17

7.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.05 $3.05

12.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.95 $1.95

-21.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.47 $3.47

27.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.21 $2.21

-17.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$28.76 $28.76

20.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.97 $0.97

-19.59%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.4K $24.4K

6.51%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$22.7K $22.7K

13.91%

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

$175 $175

$174 $174

0.54%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$42.49 $42.49

40.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$51.4 $51.4

27.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$42.91 $42.91

42.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$10.88 $10.88

35.66%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,224 $1,224

12.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.7K $23.7K

-6.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$44.98 $44.98

25.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$39.42 $39.42

14.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$67.4 $67.4

26.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$155 $155

-23.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,621 $1,621

35.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,629 $1,629

-13.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,379 $2,379

60.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,392 $2,392

12.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$3,027 $3,027

135.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$2,638 $2,638

16.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Plainfield, IL: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,621 in Plainfield, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $88.0 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 1% 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 $4,059 in Austin, TX and $4,032 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,621 in Plainfield, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,372 in Austin, TX versus $1,224 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 $76.0 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. Plainfield, IL 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 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 1% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.