Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Staten Island, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Staten Island, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,989 in Staten Island, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $4,402 in Staten Island, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $5,814 in Staten Island, NY.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 10% less than in Staten Island, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Staten Island, NY 118% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$23.55 $23.55

-15.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$88.7 $88.7

-5.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$13.64 $13.64

-9.82%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$6.49 $6.49

-15.56%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.59 $2.59

43.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.71 $1.71

38.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$8.05 $8.05

-3.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$7.83 $7.83

16.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.23 $1.23

-8.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.75 $4.75

-21.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$6.54 $6.54

-47.55%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$5.70 $5.70

-23.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$16.79 $16.79

-21.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$13.92 $13.92

3.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$19.68 $19.68

-12.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$6.09 $6.09

-26.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$3.60 $3.60

-60.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$5.90 $5.90

-20.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.16 $6.16

-19.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.53 $3.53

-15.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$4.23 $4.23

-36.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.78 $2.78

-33.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.81 $2.81

-22.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$18.75 $18.75

-49.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.84 $14.84

1.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.79 $1.79

61.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.64 $3.64

-4.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$3.02 $3.02

-45.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.92 $2.92

-3.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.19 $2.19

-27.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$42.67 $42.67

-17.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.02 $1.02

-11.76%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$34.9K $34.9K

2.77%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.8K $25.8K

7.33%

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

$222 $222

$207 $207

7.16%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$71.3 $71.3

-18.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$65.7 $65.7

5.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$118 $118

-43.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$20.20 $20.20

-31.78%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$2,000 $2,000

-23.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$15.7K $15.7K

34.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$73.0 $73.0

-25.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$37.57 $37.57

17.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$105 $105

-14.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$105 $105

3.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,816 $1,816

6.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,409 $1,409

-10.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$3,323 $3,323

13.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,404 $2,404

7.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$6,780 $6,780

-25.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.33

1.74%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Staten Island, NY: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,816 in Staten Island, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Staten Island, NY pays 33% 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 $89.0 in Staten Island, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $504 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 Staten Island, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Staten Island, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 33% lower in Staten Island, NY. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,816 in Staten Island, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $2,000 in Staten Island, NY. 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 $84.0 versus $89.0 in Staten Island, NY. 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Staten Island, 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.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Staten Island, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.