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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,414 in Saint Joseph, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,438 in Saint Joseph, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,463 in Saint Joseph, MO.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 13% more expensive than Saint Joseph, MO, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Saint Joseph, MO 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$13.61 $13.61

46.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$45.48 $45.48

67.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.93 $10.93

-7.32%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.96 $4.96

10.69%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.06 $2.06

32.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.15 $1.15

86.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.86 $4.86

24.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$6.07 $6.07

32.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.78 $0.78

39.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.10 $3.10

7.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$5.46 $5.46

-37.36%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.57 $4.57

-5.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$11.00 $11.00

7.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$4.34 $4.34

146.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$14.48 $14.48

0.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.92 $5.92

-19.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$2.04 $2.04

-26.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.82 $4.82

-6.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.54 $4.54

-11.01%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$4.19 $4.19

-34.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.39 $3.39

-17.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.79 $1.79

13.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.23 $2.23

-3.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$9.89 $9.89

-6.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$8.06 $8.06

83.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.72 $1.72

33.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.26 $3.26

8.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.97 $1.97

-22.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$6.88 $6.88

-37.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.40 $1.40

30.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$34.89 $34.89

1.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.82 $0.82

-6.10%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$30.8K $30.8K

-16.90%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$24.6K $24.6K

6.78%

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

$172 $172

$111 $111

55.15%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$49.92 $49.92

20.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$64.4 $64.4

4.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.88 $42.88

46.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$15.22 $15.22

-3.22%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,069 $1,069

30.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.6K $23.6K

-7.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$48.85 $48.85

12.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$34.92 $34.92

30.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$86.4 $86.4

0.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$95.4 $95.4

21.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,600 $1,600

40.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,357 $1,357

3.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,614 $2,614

44.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,264 $2,264

19.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$2,685 $2,685

82.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

5.89

9.51%

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, MO: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,600 in Saint Joseph, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 83% 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 $45 in Saint Joseph, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $345 per month, with Saint Joseph, 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 Joseph, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Joseph, MO wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saint Joseph, MO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 83% 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 $1,600 in Saint Joseph, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,069 in Saint Joseph, MO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Saint Joseph, MO – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Saint Joseph, MO 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.

Expats usually find Saint Joseph, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.