Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Russellville, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Russellville, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,484 in Russellville, AR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $2,825 in Russellville, AR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $3,165 in Russellville, AR.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 9% more expensive than Russellville, AR, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Russellville, AR 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$17.16 $17.16

16.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$35.64 $35.64

113.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.01 $10.01

1.20%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$2.03 $2.03

170.44%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$1.67 $1.67

62.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.74 $1.74

22.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.99 $4.99

21.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$6.59 $6.59

22.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.12 $1.12

-2.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.18 $2.18

53.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$1.70 $1.70

101.18%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.65 $3.65

18.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$10.63 $10.63

11.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.32 $11.32

-5.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$14.79 $14.79

-1.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.11 $4.11

16.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.35 $1.35

11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.45 $3.45

30.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.07 $4.07

-0.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.73 $2.73

1.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.31 $3.31

-15.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.52 $1.52

34.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.56 $1.56

37.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$8.86 $8.86

4.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$12.11 $12.11

22.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.71 $1.71

33.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.77 $3.77

-6.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.02 $2.02

-24.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.02 $2.02

112.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.34 $1.34

35.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$29.95 $29.95

18.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.73 $0.73

5.48%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$23.7K $23.7K

8.35%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$22.5K $22.5K

16.99%

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

$172 $172

$206 $206

-16.42%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$55.4 $55.4

8.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$64.2 $64.2

4.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.42 $43.42

44.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$10.30 $10.30

43.01%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,073 $1,073

30.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

-14.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$47.95 $47.95

14.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$29.87 $29.87

52.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$93.8 $93.8

-7.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$98.4 $98.4

17.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$729 $729

208.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,377 $1,377

1.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$1,030 $1,030

267.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$883 $883

206.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,874 $2,874

154.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,558 $2,558

30.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$2,882 $2,882

70.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

7.50%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Russellville, AR: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $729 in Russellville, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 70% 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: $76 in Austin, TX vs $36 in Russellville, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $330 per month, with Russellville, AR 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 Russellville, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Russellville, AR wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Russellville, AR the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 70% more on average, 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $729 in Russellville, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,073 in Russellville, AR. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Russellville, AR – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,484 in Russellville, AR versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Russellville, AR but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Russellville, AR 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 Russellville, AR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.