Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Salem, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Salem, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,715 in Austin, TX versus $2,543 in Salem, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Austin, TX versus $3,668 in Salem, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,596 in Austin, TX versus $4,794 in Salem, OH.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 7% more expensive than in Salem, OH, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Salem, OH 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$14.06 $14.06

39.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$49.98 $49.98

69.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$10.79 $10.79

13.99%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$2.94 $2.94

85.37%

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

$3.62 $3.62

$2.50 $2.50

44.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.10 $2.10

14.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$3.90 $3.90

102.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$3.97 $3.97

123.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.91 $0.91

17.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.20 $3.20

15.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.33 $5.33

-37.34%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$3.82 $3.82

12.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$13.80 $13.80

-5.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$15.02 $15.02

-5.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$15.78 $15.78

5.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$6.32 $6.32

-28.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.72 $1.72

-17.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$6.06 $6.06

-24.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.62 $4.62

1.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.98 $2.98

-9.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.37 $3.37

-23.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.20 $2.20

-14.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.35 $2.35

-6.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$9.88 $9.88

1.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$16.61 $16.61

-9.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.19 $2.19

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.08 $3.08

6.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.96 $1.96

-21.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.93 $2.93

-7.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.29 $1.29

27.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$27.39 $27.39

27.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.98 $0.98

-9.18%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$36.5K $36.5K

-0.33%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

5.24%

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

$223 $223

$225 $225

-1.03%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$67.6 $67.6

-15.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$67.5 $67.5

1.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$44.16 $44.16

48.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$13.08 $13.08

6.65%

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

$1,523 $1,523

$496 $496

206.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$33.9K $33.9K

-36.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$49.45 $49.45

7.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$40.95 $40.95

4.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$80.4 $80.4

6.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$108 $108

-4.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$1,559 $1,559

24.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$1,276 $1,276

-0.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$2,456 $2,456

53.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$2,099 $2,099

21.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$2,623 $2,623

173.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,098 $2,098

49.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.08

6.41%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Salem, OH: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,948 in Austin, TX and $1,559 in Salem, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $50.0 in Salem, OH. Groceries flip the comparison at $409 vs $434, 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 Salem, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Salem, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Salem, OH the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,072 in Austin, TX and $3,815 in Salem, OH to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $1,559 in Salem, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,523 in Austin, TX versus $496 in Salem, OH. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Salem, OH – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,543 in Salem, OH versus $2,715 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Salem, OH but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Salem, OH 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 Salem, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.