Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Saint Joseph, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Saint Joseph, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $1,942 in Saint Joseph, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,037 in Saint Joseph, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,132 in Saint Joseph, MI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 40% more expensive than Saint Joseph, MI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Saint Joseph, MI 45% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$16.03 $16.03

24.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$60.8 $60.8

25.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$9.24 $9.24

9.63%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.08 $4.08

34.56%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.36 $2.36

15.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.62 $1.62

32.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.08 $4.08

48.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$5.58 $5.58

44.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.76 $0.76

43.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.00 $3.00

11.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.92 $4.92

-30.49%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.97 $3.97

8.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$10.97 $10.97

7.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$10.51 $10.51

1.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$8.61 $8.61

68.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.44 $5.44

-11.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.21 $1.21

23.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.35 $5.35

-15.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.42 $5.42

-25.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.70 $3.70

-25.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$4.53 $4.53

-38.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.02 $2.02

0.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.48 $1.48

45.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$8.47 $8.47

8.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$8.01 $8.01

84.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.77 $1.77

29.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.73 $3.73

-5.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.01 $2.01

-24.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$5.07 $5.07

-15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.56 $1.56

16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$49.70 $49.70

-28.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.85 $0.85

-9.41%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$23.6K $23.6K

8.78%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$30.1K $30.1K

-12.69%

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

$172 $172

$191 $191

-9.82%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$57.3 $57.3

5.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$70.0 $70.0

-3.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$39.52 $39.52

59.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$10.34 $10.34

42.46%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$933 $933

49.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.6K $23.6K

-7.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$40.07 $40.07

37.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$48.32 $48.32

-5.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$74.0 $74.0

17.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$75.7 $75.7

52.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,065 $1,065

110.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$839 $839

66.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$1,919 $1,919

97.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$1,774 $1,774

52.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,745 $2,745

166.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,639 $2,639

26.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$4,798 $4,798

2.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

5.9

9.32%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Saint Joseph, MI: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,065 in Saint Joseph, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 2% 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 $61 in Saint Joseph, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $346 per month, with Saint Joseph, MI 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 Joseph, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Joseph, MI wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saint Joseph, MI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 2% 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 $1,065 in Saint Joseph, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $933 in Saint Joseph, MI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Saint Joseph, MI – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,942 in Saint Joseph, MI versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saint Joseph, MI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Saint Joseph, MI 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 Saint Joseph, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.