Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Saint Charles, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Saint Charles, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,705 in Saint Charles, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $4,006 in Saint Charles, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $5,308 in Saint Charles, IL.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Saint Charles, IL 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$37.83 $37.83

-47.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$99.6 $99.6

-15.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$10.46 $10.46

17.59%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$6.82 $6.82

-19.65%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$3.36 $3.36

10.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.91 $2.91

-18.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.98 $6.98

11.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$7.69 $7.69

18.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.05 $1.05

7.62%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.54 $3.54

5.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.30 $4.30

-20.23%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.44 $4.44

-2.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$12.39 $12.39

6.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$11.50 $11.50

25.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$13.19 $13.19

30.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.07 $5.07

-11.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.06 $1.06

35.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.32 $4.32

8.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.66 $4.66

6.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.78 $2.78

7.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.94 $2.94

-8.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.60 $1.60

15.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.23 $2.23

-2.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$9.92 $9.92

-4.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.71 $14.71

2.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.95 $1.95

48.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.35 $3.35

4.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.98 $1.98

-17.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.03 $3.03

-7.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.76 $1.76

-10.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$29.88 $29.88

17.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.97 $0.97

-7.22%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$35.8K $35.8K

0.08%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

6.63%

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

$222 $222

$204 $204

9.02%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$58.9 $58.9

-1.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$70.0 $70.0

-1.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$42.38 $42.38

56.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$13.99 $13.99

-1.50%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,451 $1,451

5.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$23.0K $23.0K

-7.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$52.5 $52.5

3.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$41.58 $41.58

5.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$88.5 $88.5

1.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$116 $116

-6.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,614 $1,614

20.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,284 $1,284

-2.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,482 $2,482

51.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,103 $2,103

23.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,806 $2,806

163.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,395 $2,395

33.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.12

5.23%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Saint Charles, IL: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,614 in Saint Charles, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $100 in Saint Charles, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $417 vs $381, with Saint Charles, 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 Saint Charles, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

You'd need roughly $4,042 in Austin, TX and $4,057 in Saint Charles, 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,614 in Saint Charles, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Saint Charles, IL pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $84.0 versus $100 in Saint Charles, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

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 Saint Charles, 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.

It comes down to priorities – Austin, TX wins on affordability, Saint Charles, IL on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.