Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Springfield, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Springfield, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,598 in Springfield, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,992 in Springfield, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $5,386 in Springfield, IL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 4% more expensive than in Springfield, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Springfield, IL 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$14.33 $14.33

38.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$42.65 $42.65

96.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$10.12 $10.12

21.54%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.40 $5.40

1.48%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$1.97 $1.97

88.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.57 $1.57

50.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$2.97 $2.97

161.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$3.91 $3.91

133.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.74 $0.74

52.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.31 $3.31

13.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$8.63 $8.63

-60.25%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$3.23 $3.23

34.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$18.88 $18.88

-30.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$16.62 $16.62

-13.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$32.84 $32.84

-47.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$8.28 $8.28

-45.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.23 $1.23

17.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$8.84 $8.84

-47.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.73 $5.73

-13.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.23 $3.23

-7.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$4.42 $4.42

-39.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.97 $1.97

-6.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.64 $1.64

32.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$9.83 $9.83

-3.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$11.08 $11.08

36.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.30 $1.30

122.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$1.55 $1.55

125.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.22 $1.22

34.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

$40.17 $40.17

0.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$5.78 $5.78

-51.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.09 $1.09

44.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$17.92 $17.92

96.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.92 $0.92

-2.17%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$37.2K $37.2K

-3.65%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$26.9K $26.9K

2.72%

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

$222 $222

$204 $204

9.03%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$93.5 $93.5

-37.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$64.9 $64.9

6.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$51.0 $51.0

29.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$20.34 $20.34

-27.43%

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$12.35 $12.35

11.58%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$956 $956

59.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$106 $106

-48.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$54.9 $54.9

-19.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$124 $124

-27.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$139 $139

-21.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$922 $922

110.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,143 $1,143

10.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$1,857 $1,857

102.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,170 $2,170

19.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$3,176 $3,176

133.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$1,150 $1,150

178.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$3,960 $3,960

28.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

5.65

13.98%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Springfield, IL: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $922 in Springfield, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 28% 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 $43.00 in Springfield, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $417 vs $517, with Austin, TX 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 Springfield, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Springfield, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 28% 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 $922 in Springfield, IL. 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 $2,598 in Springfield, IL – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Springfield, IL runs roughly 1% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,598 in Springfield, IL versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Springfield, IL but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Springfield, IL 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 Springfield, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.