Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Saint Paul, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Saint Paul, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,405 in Saint Paul, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,753 in Saint Paul, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $5,100 in Saint Paul, MN.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 13% more expensive than in Saint Paul, MN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$17.76 $17.76

10.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$66.2 $66.2

14.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$9.82 $9.82

0.41%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.05 $5.05

8.51%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.78 $2.78

-4.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.38 $2.38

-12.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.88 $5.88

3.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$6.86 $6.86

18.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.04 $1.04

5.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$4.18 $4.18

-18.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.81 $3.81

-11.29%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.33 $3.33

31.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$9.36 $9.36

29.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$11.62 $11.62

-6.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$14.26 $14.26

2.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.06 $5.06

-1.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.20 $1.20

25.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$5.64 $5.64

-21.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.18 $5.18

-20.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.94 $3.94

-28.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.75 $3.75

-23.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.99 $1.99

-2.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.92 $1.92

13.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$10.66 $10.66

-15.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.71 $14.71

2.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.75 $1.75

33.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.45 $4.45

-22.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.27 $2.27

-32.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$121 $121

-63.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.04 $5.04

-12.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.37 $1.37

33.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$29.27 $29.27

18.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.82 $0.82

-4.88%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$35.1K $35.1K

-26.09%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.15%

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

$175 $175

$226 $226

-22.63%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$49.33 $49.33

21.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$71.9 $71.9

-8.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$42.02 $42.02

45.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

$9.81 $9.81

0.82%

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$14.01 $14.01

5.35%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,458 $1,458

-5.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$30.6K $30.6K

-27.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$38.77 $38.77

45.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$41.32 $41.32

9.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$84.5 $84.5

0.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$127 $127

-6.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,248 $1,248

76.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,017 $1,017

37.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,180 $2,180

75.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,276 $2,276

17.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$2,957 $2,957

141.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$2,197 $2,197

40.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$4,046 $4,046

26.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.43

0.31%

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 Paul, MN: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,248 in Saint Paul, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 26% 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 $66.0 in Saint Paul, MN. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $388, 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 Paul, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Paul, MN 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 Paul, MN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 26% 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 $1,248 in Saint Paul, MN. 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 $2,405 in Saint Paul, MN – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Saint Paul, MN runs roughly 175% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,405 in Saint Paul, MN versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Saint Paul, MN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Saint Paul, MN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Saint Paul, MN delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,405 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Saint Paul, MN hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Saint Paul, MN 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 Paul, MN 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.