๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,550 in Smithtown, NY.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,789 in Smithtown, NY.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $5,027 in Smithtown, NY.
๐Living in Austin, TX is roughly 7% more expensive than Smithtown, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX103% above, Smithtown, NY90% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Austin, TX
Smithtown, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.99$19.99
$19.82$19.82
0.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2$76.2
$84.9$84.9
-10.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.13$10.13
$9.83$9.83
3.05%
Cappuccino
$5.49$5.49
$4.96$4.96
10.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72$2.72
$1.97$1.97
38.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14$2.14
$1.93$1.93
10.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.07$6.07
$7.19$7.19
-15.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.04$8.04
$8.19$8.19
-1.83%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Smithtown, NY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09$1.09
$1.29$1.29
-15.50%
White Bread(500g)
$3.34$3.34
$3.66$3.66
-8.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.42$3.42
$5.31$5.31
-35.59%
Eggs
$4.32$4.32
$4.91$4.91
-12.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.80$11.80
$21.51$21.51
-45.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.68$10.68
$6.18$6.18
72.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.50$14.50
$17.41$17.41
-16.71%
Apples(1kg)
$4.79$4.79
$4.83$4.83
-0.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50$1.50
$1.74$1.74
-13.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.51$4.51
$4.08$4.08
10.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.04$4.04
$4.14$4.14
-2.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.76$2.76
$2.89$2.89
-4.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.79$2.79
$3.91$3.91
-28.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04$2.04
$2.48$2.48
-17.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15$2.15
$1.22$1.22
76.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.23$9.23
$11.91$11.91
-22.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.81$14.81
$14.74$14.74
0.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29$2.29
$1.68$1.68
36.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53$3.53
$5.96$5.96
-40.77%
๐ Getting Around
Austin, TX
Smithtown, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.52$1.52
$2.03$2.03
-25.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.64$43.64
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29$4.29
$3.07$3.07
39.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82$1.82
$2.03$2.03
-10.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.52$35.52
$23.65$23.65
50.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77$0.77
$0.91$0.91
-15.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K$25.6K
$34.4K$34.4K
-25.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K$26.3K
$25.5K$25.5K
3.29%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Smithtown, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$172$172
$126$126
36.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.3$60.3
$44.69$44.69
34.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.2$67.2
$64.5$64.5
4.26%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Smithtown, NY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.8$62.8
$43.74$43.74
43.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.85$9.85
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.73$14.73
$12.75$12.75
15.53%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Smithtown, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,398$1,398
$2,247$2,247
-37.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.8K$21.8K
$24.1K$24.1K
-9.63%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Smithtown, NY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1$55.1
$73.5$73.5
-25.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.66$45.66
$63.1$63.1
-27.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8$86.8
$61.1$61.1
41.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115$115
$80.1$80.1
44.13%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Smithtown, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,245$2,245
$1,585$1,585
41.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,401$1,401
$1,372$1,372
2.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,782$3,782
$2,802$2,802
35.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,708$2,708
$2,200$2,200
23.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,304$7,304
$2,563$2,563
184.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,331$3,331
$2,674$2,674
24.58%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Smithtown, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,910$4,910
$4,922$4,922
-0.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
6.62
-2.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026
Last update for Smithtown, NY: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,585 in Smithtown, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐSmithtown, NY pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $85 in Smithtown, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $400 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 Smithtown, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Smithtown, NY?
Smithtown, NY wins on cost โ living expenses run 7% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Smithtown, NY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or Smithtown, NY?
On paper, Smithtown, NY earns 0% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX vs Smithtown, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,585 in Smithtown, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Austin, TX and Smithtown, NY?
Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $2,247 in Smithtown, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Austin, TX vs Smithtown, NY?
Dining out is cheaper in Smithtown, NY โ a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or Smithtown, NY?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Smithtown, NY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Smithtown, NY?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Smithtown, NY?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Smithtown, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Smithtown, NY gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 7% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared