Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Silver Spring, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Silver Spring, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Austin, TX versus $2,781 in Silver Spring, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $4,460 in Silver Spring, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,546 in Austin, TX versus $6,140 in Silver Spring, MD.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 4% less than in Silver Spring, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Silver Spring, MD 108% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.85 $19.85

$20.19 $20.19

-1.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$91.2 $91.2

-18.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$9.24 $9.24

8.55%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$5.51 $5.51

0.18%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$3.00 $3.00

-7.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.54 $2.54

-17.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 $6.04

$6.66 $6.66

-9.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 $7.81

$8.70 $8.70

-10.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.91 $0.91

24.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 $3.45

$4.79 $4.79

-27.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$6.15 $6.15

-44.39%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$5.97 $5.97

-26.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$18.56 $18.56

-34.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 $10.79

$15.94 $15.94

-32.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 $14.36

$22.44 $22.44

-36.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$7.67 $7.67

-34.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.71 $1.71

-11.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$8.03 $8.03

-45.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$7.01 $7.01

-43.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.28 $3.28

-16.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.70 $2.70

2.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.20 $2.20

-10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.40 $2.40

-5.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.74 $8.74

$10.82 $10.82

-19.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$14.72 $14.72

0.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.77 $1.77

27.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$5.02 $5.02

-28.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$5.09 $5.09

-69.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.09 $43.09

$175 $175

-75.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 $4.45

$4.57 $4.57

-2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.41 $1.41

28.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$29.33 $29.33

20.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.81 $0.81

-8.64%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.1K $26.1K

-2.44%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.2K $24.2K

9.04%

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

$170 $170

$212 $212

-19.95%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$53.7 $53.7

12.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$66.1 $66.1

1.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 $61.6

$32.90 $32.90

87.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$22.34 $22.34

-56.00%

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$17.08 $17.08

-11.36%

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

$1,381 $1,381

$2,271 $2,271

-39.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$59.1K $59.1K

-63.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$46.12 $46.12

23.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.94 $45.94

$36.54 $36.54

25.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$93.3 $93.3

-7.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$122 $122

-2.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,963 $1,963

11.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 $1,417

$1,142 $1,142

24.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,801 $3,801

$3,763 $3,763

1.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,711 $2,711

$2,487 $2,487

9.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,204 $7,204

$5,430 $5,430

32.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,239 $3,239

$4,382 $4,382

-26.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,914 $4,914

$4,905 $4,905

0.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.61

-2.42%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 27, 2026

Last update for Silver Spring, MD: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,183 in Austin, TX and $1,963 in Silver Spring, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $91.0 in Silver Spring, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $525 per month, with Austin, TX 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 Silver Spring, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Silver Spring, MD. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 0% more on average, 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: $2,183 in Austin, TX versus $1,963 in Silver Spring, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,657 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,781 in Silver Spring, MD – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 306% less than in Silver Spring, MD. 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 5% less than in Silver Spring, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.