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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,488 in Saint Louis, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,733 in Saint Louis, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,978 in Saint Louis, MO.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 9% more expensive than in Saint Louis, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Saint Louis, MO 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$24.98 $24.98

-21.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$70.4 $70.4

7.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.80 $10.80

-8.70%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.87 $4.87

12.53%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.39 $2.39

10.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.88 $1.88

11.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.36 $5.36

13.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$5.83 $5.83

39.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.95 $0.95

15.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.88 $2.88

17.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$5.56 $5.56

-39.21%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$2.94 $2.94

49.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$13.98 $13.98

-13.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$12.03 $12.03

-9.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$16.39 $16.39

-10.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$7.16 $7.16

-30.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.28 $2.28

-33.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$5.62 $5.62

-21.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.06 $4.06

0.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.97 $3.97

-29.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$4.05 $4.05

-29.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.40 $2.40

-18.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.42 $2.42

-9.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$7.63 $7.63

17.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.28 $15.28

-1.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.16 $2.16

7.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.94 $3.94

-12.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.53 $2.53

-39.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$78.6 $78.6

-43.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.52 $3.52

25.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.56 $1.56

17.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$39.90 $39.90

-13.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.84 $0.84

-7.14%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$32.0K $32.0K

-18.84%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.99%

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

$175 $175

$246 $246

-28.88%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$52.5 $52.5

13.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$69.7 $69.7

-6.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$27.28 $27.28

124.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

$20.35 $20.35

-51.40%

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$12.91 $12.91

14.33%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,305 $1,305

5.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$24.3K $24.3K

-8.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$50.5 $50.5

11.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$41.06 $41.06

10.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$90.0 $90.0

-5.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$121 $121

-2.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,415 $1,415

55.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,027 $1,027

36.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,368 $2,368

61.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$1,937 $1,937

38.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$1,367 $1,367

421.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$1,823 $1,823

68.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$4,252 $4,252

20.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.49

-0.62%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Saint Louis, MO: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,415 in Saint Louis, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 20% 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: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $70.0 in Saint Louis, MO. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $424, with Austin, TX 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 Louis, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Louis, MO wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saint Louis, MO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 20% 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,415 in Saint Louis, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,488 in Saint Louis, MO – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Saint Louis, MO runs roughly 78% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Saint Louis, 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 Louis, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.