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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,503 in Streamwood, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,728 in Streamwood, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,952 in Streamwood, IL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 8% more expensive than in Streamwood, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Streamwood, IL 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$20.23 $20.23

-2.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$75.8 $75.8

10.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.97 $11.97

2.76%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.32 $5.32

3.01%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.87 $2.87

29.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.47 $2.47

-4.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.15 $6.15

26.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$7.72 $7.72

18.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.00 $1.00

13.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.67 $3.67

2.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.85 $2.85

20.35%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$3.53 $3.53

23.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$9.71 $9.71

35.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$11.48 $11.48

25.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$14.26 $14.26

20.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.11 $5.11

-12.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.66 $1.66

-13.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.28 $4.28

9.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.79 $4.79

3.76%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.88 $2.88

4.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.09 $3.09

-12.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.54 $1.54

20.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.48 $1.48

47.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$10.90 $10.90

-13.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$12.13 $12.13

24.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.74 $1.74

66.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.47 $4.47

-21.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.96 $1.96

-16.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

$39.55 $39.55

2.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.98 $3.98

-29.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.95 $1.95

-18.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$44.10 $44.10

-20.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.97 $0.97

-7.22%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$24.2K $24.2K

48.31%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.0K $25.0K

10.73%

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

$222 $222

$175 $175

27.03%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$52.8 $52.8

10.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$54.3 $54.3

27.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$42.23 $42.23

56.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$8.17 $8.17

80.66%

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$15.07 $15.07

-8.56%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,499 $1,499

1.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$23.4K $23.4K

-9.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$55.7 $55.7

-2.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$45.74 $45.74

-3.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$99.9 $99.9

-10.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$101 $101

7.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,588 $1,588

22.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,268 $1,268

-0.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,457 $2,457

53.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,097 $2,097

23.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,762 $2,762

168.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,424 $2,424

32.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$7,270 $7,270

-30.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.16

4.55%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Streamwood, IL: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,588 in Streamwood, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Streamwood, IL pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $76.0 in Streamwood, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $359 per month, with Streamwood, IL 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 Streamwood, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Streamwood, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Streamwood, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Streamwood, IL. 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 $1,588 in Streamwood, 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 $2,503 in Streamwood, IL – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Streamwood, IL runs roughly 2% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Streamwood, IL 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.

Expats usually find Streamwood, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.