Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Surprise, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Surprise, AZ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,701 in Surprise, AZ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $4,060 in Surprise, AZ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $5,419 in Surprise, AZ.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than Surprise, AZ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Surprise, AZ 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$19.81 $19.81

0.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$79.6 $79.6

-4.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$11.96 $11.96

-15.30%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.51 $5.51

-0.36%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.67 $2.67

1.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.22 $2.22

-3.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$6.10 $6.10

-0.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$6.90 $6.90

16.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.86 $0.86

26.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.85 $3.85

-13.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$5.33 $5.33

-35.83%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.56 $4.56

-5.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$12.11 $12.11

-2.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.64 $11.64

-8.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$15.17 $15.17

-4.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.98 $4.98

-3.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.94 $1.94

-22.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.84 $3.84

17.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.27 $4.27

-5.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.46 $2.46

12.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.54 $2.54

9.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.94 $1.94

5.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.27 $2.27

-5.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$11.34 $11.34

-18.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.18 $15.18

-2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.16 $2.16

6.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.82 $3.82

-7.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$3.95 $3.95

-61.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$79.7 $79.7

-45.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.69 $2.69

59.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.39 $1.39

30.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$36.18 $36.18

-1.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.98 $0.98

-21.43%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$30.5K $30.5K

-16.09%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

1.17%

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

$172 $172

$259 $259

-33.51%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$71.0 $71.0

-15.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$81.5 $81.5

-17.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$60.7 $60.7

3.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$13.11 $13.11

12.36%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,091 $1,091

28.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$15.4K $15.4K

41.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$55.6 $55.6

-0.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$38.65 $38.65

18.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$83.9 $83.9

3.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$103 $103

11.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,703 $1,703

31.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,310 $1,310

6.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,404 $2,404

57.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,420 $2,420

11.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$1,634 $1,634

103.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$4,316 $4,316

13.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.46

-0.15%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Surprise, AZ: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,703 in Surprise, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 14% 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 in Austin, TX vs $80 in Surprise, AZ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $396 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 Surprise, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Surprise, AZ 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 Surprise, AZ the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 14% more on average, 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,703 in Surprise, AZ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,701 in Surprise, AZ – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Surprise, AZ runs roughly 83% 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 $3,000. Surprise, AZ 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 Surprise, AZ 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.