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: $2,732 in Austin, TX versus $2,457 in Russellville, AR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,139 in Austin, TX versus $2,816 in Russellville, AR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,545 in Austin, TX versus $3,175 in Russellville, AR.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 11% more expensive than in Russellville, AR, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 105% above, Russellville, AR 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$16.69 $16.69

16.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$36.18 $36.18

108.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 $9.89

$9.71 $9.71

1.85%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$2.02 $2.02

171.78%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$1.65 $1.65

63.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.80 $1.80

18.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$5.08 $5.08

16.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.42 $6.42

22.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.14 $1.14

0.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.15 $2.15

55.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$1.71 $1.71

103.51%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$3.65 $3.65

21.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.79 $11.79

$10.75 $10.75

9.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 $10.65

$11.55 $11.55

-7.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$14.99 $14.99

-1.27%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.17 $4.17

14.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.33 $1.33

18.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.43 $3.43

27.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$4.21 $4.21

-4.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.66 $2.66

1.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.26 $3.26

-12.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.57 $1.57

29.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.56 $1.56

44.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.78 $8.78

$8.92 $8.92

-1.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.03 $15.03

$13.63 $13.63

10.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.75 $1.75

30.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.65 $3.65

-4.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.95 $1.95

-21.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.99 $43.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.30 $4.30

$1.98 $1.98

117.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.35 $1.35

34.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$30.40 $30.40

15.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.74 $0.74

-1.35%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$23.2K $23.2K

11.33%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$22.7K $22.7K

16.66%

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

$172 $172

$211 $211

-18.27%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$55.7 $55.7

4.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 $66.1

$63.3 $63.3

4.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 $63.6

$43.72 $43.72

45.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.15 $10.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$10.37 $10.37

45.13%

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

$1,399 $1,399

$1,078 $1,078

29.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

-12.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$48.80 $48.80

15.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.66 $46.66

$30.40 $30.40

53.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 $86.4

$93.2 $93.2

-7.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$102 $102

17.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$732 $732

204.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,399 $1,399

$1,350 $1,350

3.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,821 $3,821

$1,003 $1,003

280.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$873 $873

203.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,237 $7,237

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,127 $3,127

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,009 $5,009

$2,885 $2,885

73.61%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Russellville, AR: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,228 in Austin, TX and $732 in Russellville, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 74% 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $36.00 in Russellville, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $378 vs $336 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 11% 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.

Average pay runs 74% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $2,228 in Austin, TX versus $732 in Russellville, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,399 in Austin, TX versus $1,078 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 $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,457 in Russellville, AR versus $2,732 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 11% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.