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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $1,908 in Saint Charles, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $2,999 in Saint Charles, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $4,089 in Saint Charles, MO.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 42% more expensive than in Saint Charles, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Saint Charles, MO 43% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$14.94 $14.94

33.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$49.20 $49.20

51.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$11.19 $11.19

-11.97%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$3.91 $3.91

48.08%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.15 $2.15

27.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.46 $1.46

48.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.59 $5.59

6.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$6.14 $6.14

32.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.68 $0.68

61.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.16 $2.16

51.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.76 $2.76

22.10%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$2.74 $2.74

57.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$11.10 $11.10

8.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$6.38 $6.38

65.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$13.53 $13.53

7.83%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$3.16 $3.16

59.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.60 $1.60

-1.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.43 $3.43

27.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.28 $3.28

24.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.09 $1.09

154.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.45 $2.45

15.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.47 $1.47

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.51 $1.51

47.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$10.29 $10.29

-14.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$13.16 $13.16

11.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.05 $2.05

14.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.82 $3.82

-9.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$4.97 $4.97

-69.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.43 $3.43

25.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.54 $1.54

16.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$49.27 $49.27

-28.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.92 $0.92

-13.04%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.7K $29.7K

-13.37%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$22.6K $22.6K

18.75%

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

$173 $173

$215 $215

-19.16%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$41.26 $41.26

41.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$61.6 $61.6

8.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$49.06 $49.06

26.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$12.16 $12.16

21.71%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,019 $1,019

38.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$23.6K $23.6K

-6.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$45.07 $45.07

21.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$39.80 $39.80

17.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$86.3 $86.3

1.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$99.3 $99.3

20.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,495 $1,495

47.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$802 $802

78.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$1,700 $1,700

121.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$1,930 $1,930

40.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$3,477 $3,477

46.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.56

-1.68%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Saint Charles, MO: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,495 in Saint Charles, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 46% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $49.00 in Saint Charles, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $288 per month, with Saint Charles, MO 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 Saint Charles, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Charles, MO wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saint Charles, MO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 46% 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,495 in Saint Charles, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $1,019 in Saint Charles, MO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Saint Charles, MO – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,908 in Saint Charles, MO versus $2,701 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Saint Charles, MO but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Saint Charles, MO 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 Saint Charles, MO 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 Saint Charles, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.