Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Syracuse, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Syracuse, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $3,018 in Syracuse, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $4,363 in Syracuse, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $5,709 in Syracuse, NY.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 10% less than in Syracuse, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Syracuse, NY 126% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$17.03 $17.03

17.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$93.9 $93.9

-20.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$11.53 $11.53

-14.57%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.99 $5.99

-3.34%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.24 $2.24

22.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.86 $1.86

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$6.86 $6.86

-12.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$7.70 $7.70

5.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.96 $0.96

14.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.96 $3.96

-17.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$5.52 $5.52

-38.95%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.47 $4.47

-3.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$12.69 $12.69

-5.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$13.00 $13.00

-18.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$17.22 $17.22

-15.27%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$5.95 $5.95

-15.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.26 $1.26

24.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.32 $5.32

-17.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$6.09 $6.09

-33.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$4.19 $4.19

-33.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.94 $3.94

-28.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.77 $2.77

-29.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.42 $2.42

-7.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$12.35 $12.35

-29.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.96 $14.96

-1.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.97 $2.97

-21.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.84 $4.84

-28.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.74 $2.74

-44.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

$113 $113

-62.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.99 $3.99

8.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.02 $2.02

-10.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$30.14 $30.14

16.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.89 $0.89

-10.11%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.0K $29.0K

-11.37%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.7K $25.7K

4.48%

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

$173 $173

$232 $232

-25.15%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$59.5 $59.5

-1.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$75.4 $75.4

-10.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$52.5 $52.5

17.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

$34.19 $34.19

-71.19%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$14.78 $14.78

0.14%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,732 $1,732

-18.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$17.3K $17.3K

28.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$54.2 $54.2

1.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$48.90 $48.90

-4.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$96.2 $96.2

-8.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$121 $121

-1.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,766 $1,766

24.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,491 $1,491

-4.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$3,545 $3,545

6.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,419 $2,419

11.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$1,725 $1,725

325.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$1,874 $1,874

67.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$3,551 $3,551

43.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.42

0.47%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Syracuse, NY: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,766 in Syracuse, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $94.0 in Syracuse, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $448 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 Syracuse, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Syracuse, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 43% 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,766 in Syracuse, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,701 per month in Austin, TX versus $3,018 in Syracuse, NY – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 164% less than in Syracuse, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Syracuse, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.