Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Show Low, AZ

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,698 a month against $2,933 in Show Low, AZ, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Show Low, AZ outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
141

Cost of Living Index in Show Low, AZ
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Show Low, AZ Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,698

/mo nomad

Show Low, AZ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,933

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Show Low, AZ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Show Low, AZ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,698 in Austin, TX versus $2,933 in Show Low, AZ.

Austin, TX $2,698
Show Low, AZ $2,933

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,160 in Austin, TX versus $4,012 in Show Low, AZ.

Austin, TX $4,160
Show Low, AZ $4,012

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,622 in Austin, TX versus $5,090 in Show Low, AZ.

Austin, TX $5,622
Show Low, AZ $5,090

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 8% less than in Show Low, AZ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 99% above, Show Low, AZ 116% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.63 $20.63

$17.85 $17.85

15.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$78.8 $78.8

7.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$18.26 $18.26

-33.90%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.93 $5.93

-7.59%

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

$3.80 $3.80

$3.54 $3.54

7.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.72 $2.72

-9.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$5.94 $5.94

35.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.88 $8.88

$6.85 $6.85

29.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.49 $1.49

-25.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.48 $4.48

-16.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$4.48 $4.48

-24.78%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.14 $4.14

4.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.13 $13.13

$11.80 $11.80

11.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.15 $14.15

$11.56 $11.56

22.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 $16.33

$17.68 $17.68

-7.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$4.87 $4.87

-6.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.57 $1.57

-7.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$3.85 $3.85

22.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.50 $4.50

-7.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.50 $2.50

3.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.99 $2.99

-21.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.94 $1.94

-8.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.24 $2.24

-4.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.10 $10.10

$8.83 $8.83

14.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$14.86 $14.86

2.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.71 $1.71

64.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.39 $3.39

1.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.92 $1.92

-19.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.99 $40.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.07 $3.07

-8.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.74 $1.74

-8.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.34 $34.34

$28.86 $28.86

18.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.08 $1.08

-12.96%

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

$34.0K $34.0K

$25.5K $25.5K

33.01%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.7K $25.7K

4.17%

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

$223 $223

$198 $198

12.27%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$58.3 $58.3

1.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.6 $70.6

$100.0 $100.0

-29.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 $57.7

$44.66 $44.66

29.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.53 $16.53

Cinema Ticket

$14.26 $14.26

$9.13 $9.13

56.19%

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

$1,511 $1,511

$1,554 $1,554

-2.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$21.5K $21.5K

-2.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 $51.3

$49.57 $49.57

3.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.17 $44.17

$35.43 $35.43

24.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 $87.0

$91.0 $91.0

-4.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$103 $103

1.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,940 $1,940

$1,483 $1,483

30.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 $1,316

$1,627 $1,627

-19.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$2,456 $2,456

49.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,565 $2,565

$2,236 $2,236

14.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,354 $7,354

$2,971 $2,971

147.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,129 $3,129

$2,500 $2,500

25.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,286 $5,286

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

6.57

3.35%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Last update for Show Low, AZ: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.8%

Show Low, AZ

$1.6K 55.5% 23.6% $310

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$406 15.1%

Show Low, AZ

$405 13.8% 0.2% $0.7

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$352 13.1%

Show Low, AZ

$357 12.2% 1.3% $4.4

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$350 13%

Show Low, AZ

$337 11.5% 3.7% $13

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$129 4.8%

Show Low, AZ

$126 4.3% 2.7% $3.5

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Show Low, AZ

$63 2.1% 27% $23

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$58 2.2%

Show Low, AZ

$19 * 0.7% 66.5% $38

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,940 in Austin, TX and $1,483 in Show Low, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $79.0 in Show Low, AZ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $405 per month, with Show Low, AZ cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇺🇸 Show Low, AZ

🕒 Local time

23:35 11:35 PM

21:35 9:35 PM

2 h behind Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

11,732

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Austin, TX Show Low, AZ 1,240 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Show Low, AZ

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Show Low, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

You'd need roughly $4,046 in Austin, TX and $4,400 in Show Low, AZ 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: $1,940 in Austin, TX versus $1,483 in Show Low, AZ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,511 in Austin, TX versus $1,554 in Show Low, AZ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $79.0 in Show Low, AZ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 9% less than in Show Low, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.