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: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,974 in Syracuse, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $4,347 in Syracuse, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $5,721 in Syracuse, NY.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 9% less than in Syracuse, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Syracuse, NY 122% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$16.66 $16.66

19.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$93.5 $93.5

-18.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$11.34 $11.34

-10.67%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.94 $5.94

-7.58%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.27 $2.27

19.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.94 $1.94

10.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$6.85 $6.85

-11.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$7.65 $7.65

5.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.94 $0.94

15.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.90 $3.90

-14.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$5.64 $5.64

-39.36%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.62 $4.62

-6.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$12.65 $12.65

-6.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$13.01 $13.01

-17.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$17.38 $17.38

-16.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.62 $5.62

-14.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.27 $1.27

18.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.34 $5.34

-15.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$6.08 $6.08

-33.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$4.02 $4.02

-31.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.85 $3.85

-27.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.86 $2.86

-28.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.51 $2.51

-14.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$12.46 $12.46

-25.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$14.87 $14.87

-0.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$3.03 $3.03

-24.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.85 $4.85

-27.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.68 $2.68

-43.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$112 $112

-61.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.86 $3.86

11.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.97 $1.97

-7.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$29.44 $29.44

20.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.91 $0.91

-15.38%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$28.9K $28.9K

-11.37%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

3.03%

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

$172 $172

$235 $235

-26.83%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$58.7 $58.7

2.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$74.7 $74.7

-10.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$52.1 $52.1

20.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

$35.02 $35.02

-71.87%

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$15.05 $15.05

-2.13%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,696 $1,696

-17.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$17.8K $17.8K

22.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$53.9 $53.9

2.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$48.01 $48.01

-4.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$94.3 $94.3

-8.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$120 $120

-3.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,732 $1,732

29.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,476 $1,476

-5.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$3,510 $3,510

7.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,458 $2,458

10.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$1,724 $1,724

323.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$1,914 $1,914

74.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$3,627 $3,627

35.38%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Syracuse, NY: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,732 in Syracuse, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $93 in Syracuse, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 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 9% 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.

Austin, TX pays 35% 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 $1,732 in Syracuse, NY. 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 $2,974 in Syracuse, NY – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 157% 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 9% less than in Syracuse, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.