Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Scottsdale, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Scottsdale, AZ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,961 in Scottsdale, AZ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $4,384 in Scottsdale, AZ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $5,807 in Scottsdale, AZ.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 9% less than in Scottsdale, AZ, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Scottsdale, AZ 116% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$20.20 $20.20

-1.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$89.4 $89.4

-6.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$13.25 $13.25

-7.17%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.30 $5.30

3.40%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.88 $2.88

29.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.30 $2.30

2.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.94 $5.94

30.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$8.22 $8.22

11.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.96 $0.96

17.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.31 $4.31

-12.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.15 $5.15

-33.40%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.77 $4.77

-8.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$13.73 $13.73

-4.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$11.52 $11.52

24.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$16.96 $16.96

1.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.50 $4.50

-0.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.81 $1.81

-20.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$3.80 $3.80

22.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.08 $4.08

21.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.86 $2.86

4.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.81 $2.81

-4.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.10 $2.10

-11.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.50 $2.50

-12.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$10.77 $10.77

-12.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$13.40 $13.40

12.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.41 $2.41

19.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.16 $3.16

10.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.25 $2.25

-27.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

$43.82 $43.82

-7.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.67 $2.67

5.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.38 $1.38

14.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$35.83 $35.83

-1.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.09 $1.09

-17.43%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$36.1K $36.1K

-0.67%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.8K $25.8K

7.06%

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

$222 $222

$206 $206

8.03%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$61.8 $61.8

-5.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$73.4 $73.4

-5.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$34.95 $34.95

89.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$10.18 $10.18

44.99%

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$13.57 $13.57

1.55%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,225 $1,225

24.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$20.1K $20.1K

5.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$56.2 $56.2

-2.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$45.20 $45.20

-2.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$98.6 $98.6

-9.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$121 $121

-10.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$2,383 $2,383

-18.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,583 $1,583

-20.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$3,151 $3,151

19.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,801 $2,801

-7.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$3,703 $3,703

99.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$4,724 $4,724

-32.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$5,659 $5,659

-10.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.08

5.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Scottsdale, AZ: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $2,383 in Scottsdale, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Scottsdale, AZ pays 11% 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 $89.0 in Scottsdale, AZ. Groceries flip the comparison at $417 vs $409, with Scottsdale, AZ 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 Scottsdale, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Scottsdale, AZ. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 11% lower in Scottsdale, AZ. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $2,383 in Scottsdale, AZ. 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 $2,961 in Scottsdale, AZ – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 8% less than in Scottsdale, AZ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Scottsdale, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.