Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Tallahassee, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Tallahassee, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,704 in Tallahassee, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,896 in Tallahassee, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $5,087 in Tallahassee, FL.

Monthly costs are close between Austin, TX and Tallahassee, FL; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Tallahassee, FL 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$26.61 $26.61

-25.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$80.3 $80.3

4.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.78 $11.78

4.41%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.90 $4.90

11.84%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.67 $2.67

39.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.00 $2.00

18.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.06 $5.06

53.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.92 $6.92

32.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.03 $1.03

9.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.60 $3.60

4.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.01 $2.01

70.65%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$2.87 $2.87

51.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$11.19 $11.19

17.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$10.02 $10.02

43.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$13.71 $13.71

25.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.02 $4.02

11.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.51 $1.51

-4.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.22 $4.22

10.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.57 $4.57

8.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.63 $3.63

-17.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.70 $3.70

-27.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.70 $1.70

8.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.16 $2.16

0.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$9.24 $9.24

2.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.65 $14.65

3.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.82 $1.82

58.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$1.99 $1.99

75.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.26 $1.26

30.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

$38.66 $38.66

4.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.43 $2.43

15.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.49 $1.49

6.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$28.19 $28.19

24.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.88 $0.88

2.27%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$37.6K $37.6K

-4.60%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.2K $25.2K

9.54%

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

$222 $222

$175 $175

27.09%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$49.62 $49.62

17.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$65.3 $65.3

5.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$23.84 $23.84

177.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$13.61 $13.61

8.45%

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$14.23 $14.23

-3.16%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$963 $963

58.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$13.9K $13.9K

52.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$58.9 $58.9

-7.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$34.49 $34.49

27.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$98.1 $98.1

-8.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$106 $106

2.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,595 $1,595

21.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,409 $1,409

-10.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,618 $2,618

43.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,224 $2,224

16.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,135 $2,135

246.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,098 $2,098

52.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$3,587 $3,587

41.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.1

5.57%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Tallahassee, FL: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,595 in Tallahassee, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 42% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $80.0 in Tallahassee, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $353 per month, with Tallahassee, FL 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 Tallahassee, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Average pay runs 42% 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,595 in Tallahassee, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $963 in Tallahassee, FL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $84.0 versus $80.0 in Tallahassee, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Austin, TX wins on affordability, Tallahassee, FL on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.