Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Sterling Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Sterling

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,715 in Austin, TX versus $2,699 in Sterling.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Austin, TX versus $4,188 in Sterling.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,596 in Austin, TX versus $5,677 in Sterling.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than in Sterling, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Sterling 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$13.71 $13.71

43.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$74.3 $74.3

13.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$10.65 $10.65

15.49%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$5.93 $5.93

-8.09%

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

$3.62 $3.62

$2.72 $2.72

33.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.57 $2.57

-6.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$5.65 $5.65

40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$8.04 $8.04

10.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$4.21 $4.21

-12.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.09 $5.09

-34.38%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$5.61 $5.61

-23.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$16.30 $16.30

-20.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$14.77 $14.77

-3.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$19.15 $19.15

-12.90%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.75 $4.75

-5.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.71 $1.71

-16.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$6.07 $6.07

-24.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$5.27 $5.27

-11.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.07 $3.07

-11.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.37 $2.37

8.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.10 $2.10

-10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.71 $2.71

-19.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$10.18 $10.18

-1.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$14.06 $14.06

7.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.77 $1.77

64.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$5.16 $5.16

-36.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$5.09 $5.09

-69.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.98 $2.98

-9.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.42 $1.42

16.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$22.76 $22.76

54.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.01 $1.01

-11.88%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$23.0K $23.0K

58.46%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$22.9K $22.9K

18.20%

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

$223 $223

$98.2 $98.2

127.02%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$49.64 $49.64

15.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$73.1 $73.1

-6.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$28.63 $28.63

128.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$17.19 $17.19

-18.85%

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

$1,523 $1,523

$1,894 $1,894

-19.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$31.8K $31.8K

-32.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$47.60 $47.60

11.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$44.60 $44.60

-4.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$85.0 $85.0

0.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$89.6 $89.6

14.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$1,255 $1,255

55.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$1,482 $1,482

-14.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$2,000 $2,000

88.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$2,869 $2,869

-11.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$3,280 $3,280

118.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,409 $2,409

30.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$3,739 $3,739

32.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.34

2.05%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Sterling: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,948 in Austin, TX and $1,255 in Sterling. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $74.0 in Sterling. Groceries flip the comparison at $409 vs $463, 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 Sterling: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sterling wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sterling the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 33% 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: $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $1,255 in Sterling. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,523 in Austin, TX versus $1,894 in Sterling. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Sterling – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,699 in Sterling versus $2,715 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sterling but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Sterling 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 Sterling 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 Sterling gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.