Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and State College, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and State College, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,295 in State College, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,424 in State College, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,553 in State College, PA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 18% more expensive than in State College, PA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, State College, PA 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$17.92 $17.92

9.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$50.9 $50.9

49.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$9.22 $9.22

6.94%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.48 $4.48

22.32%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.76 $2.76

-3.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.06 $2.06

1.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.96 $4.96

22.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$7.20 $7.20

13.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.90 $0.90

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.55 $3.55

-4.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$1.93 $1.93

75.13%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.92 $3.92

11.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$9.95 $9.95

21.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$8.26 $8.26

31.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$11.94 $11.94

22.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.50 $3.50

41.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.55 $1.55

-2.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$5.08 $5.08

-13.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.00 $5.00

-18.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.03 $2.03

38.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.86 $2.86

0.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.14 $2.14

-8.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.56 $1.56

39.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$13.92 $13.92

-35.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$17.74 $17.74

-14.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.75 $1.75

33.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$7.16 $7.16

-52.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.24 $2.24

-31.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$84.0 $84.0

-47.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.21 $5.21

-15.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.21 $2.21

-17.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$45.10 $45.10

-23.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.95 $0.95

-17.89%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.5K $23.5K

10.28%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$24.2K $24.2K

6.72%

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

$175 $175

$161 $161

8.62%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$40.00 $40.00

49.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$61.8 $61.8

5.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$25.04 $25.04

144.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$12.16 $12.16

21.38%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$907 $907

51.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$29.1K $29.1K

-23.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$46.29 $46.29

22.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$39.22 $39.22

15.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$80.0 $80.0

6.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$113 $113

4.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,516 $1,516

45.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,145 $1,145

22.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,876 $2,876

32.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,047 $2,047

30.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$2,616 $2,616

172.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$2,158 $2,158

42.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$4,265 $4,265

19.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.53

-1.23%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for State College, PA: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,516 in State College, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 20% 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: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $51.0 in State College, PA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $345 per month, with State College, PA 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 State College, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

State College, PA wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making State College, PA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 20% 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,516 in State College, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,295 in State College, PA – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in State College, PA runs roughly 90% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,295 in State College, PA versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in State College, PA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes State College, PA 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and State College, PA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find State College, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.