Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Salina, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Salina, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,015 in Salina, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $2,991 in Salina, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $3,966 in Salina, KS.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 34% more expensive than in Salina, KS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Salina, KS 47% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$15.33 $15.33

29.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$50.2 $50.2

67.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$9.40 $9.40

30.85%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.47 $5.47

0.18%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$1.60 $1.60

132.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.54 $1.54

53.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.05 $5.05

53.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.77 $6.77

35.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.76 $0.76

48.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.08 $3.08

21.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$6.17 $6.17

-44.41%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.70 $4.70

-7.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$11.58 $11.58

13.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$8.68 $8.68

65.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$15.05 $15.05

14.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$6.95 $6.95

-35.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$2.24 $2.24

-35.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$5.97 $5.97

-21.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.38 $4.38

13.47%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.15 $3.15

-4.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.66 $3.66

-26.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.97 $1.97

10.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$7.97 $7.97

18.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$16.83 $16.83

-10.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.81 $1.81

59.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.44 $2.44

43.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.98 $1.98

-17.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

$24.68 $24.68

63.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$5.08 $5.08

-44.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.26 $1.26

25.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$35.63 $35.63

-1.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.88 $0.88

2.27%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

42.32%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.1K $25.1K

10.23%

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

$222 $222

$121 $121

83.33%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$51.1 $51.1

14.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$64.6 $64.6

6.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$43.22 $43.22

53.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$33.86 $33.86

-56.41%

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$13.98 $13.98

-1.43%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$822 $822

85.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$9,669 $9,669

119.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$50.4 $50.4

8.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$35.09 $35.09

25.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$78.1 $78.1

14.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$127 $127

-14.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$759 $759

155.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$829 $829

51.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$1,266 $1,266

197.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,476 $1,476

75.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,433 $1,433

416.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$1,798 $1,798

78.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$2,997 $2,997

69.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.03

6.80%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Salina, KS: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $759 in Salina, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 70% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $50.0 in Salina, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $395 per month, with Salina, KS 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 Salina, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Salina, KS wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Salina, KS the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 70% 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $759 in Salina, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,695 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,015 in Salina, KS – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Salina, KS runs roughly 64% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,015 in Salina, KS versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Salina, KS but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Salina, KS 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 Salina, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.