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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $3,095 in Tempe, AZ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,942 in Tempe, AZ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,789 in Tempe, AZ.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 14% less than in Tempe, AZ, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Tempe, AZ 131% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$18.84 $18.84

4.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$78.5 $78.5

-4.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$11.77 $11.77

-15.72%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.32 $5.32

6.58%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.75 $2.75

0.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.23 $2.23

-2.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.98 $5.98

-2.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$7.17 $7.17

8.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.90 $0.90

21.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.22 $4.22

-19.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.33 $5.33

-35.65%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.82 $4.82

-8.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$11.08 $11.08

7.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$11.72 $11.72

-8.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$14.87 $14.87

-3.90%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.79 $4.79

1.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.48 $1.48

4.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.03 $4.03

10.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.01 $5.01

-21.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.50 $2.50

9.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.68 $2.68

2.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.98 $1.98

3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.28 $2.28

-1.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$10.59 $10.59

-15.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$13.53 $13.53

9.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.15 $2.15

9.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.43 $3.43

4.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.95 $1.95

-24.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$60.2 $60.2

-28.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.67 $2.67

60.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.34 $1.34

37.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$35.91 $35.91

-1.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.87 $0.87

-17.24%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.5K $30.5K

-15.58%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.13%

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

$174 $174

$254 $254

-31.67%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$70.8 $70.8

-14.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$83.1 $83.1

-20.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$29.88 $29.88

110.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$15.12 $15.12

-34.99%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$13.20 $13.20

15.45%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,083 $1,083

27.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$15.4K $15.4K

43.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$55.7 $55.7

1.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$40.58 $40.58

11.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$89.3 $89.3

-3.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$105 $105

13.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,926 $1,926

16.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,723 $1,723

-16.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,478 $2,478

52.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,833 $1,833

44.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$4,025 $4,025

26.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.54

-1.38%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tempe, AZ: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,926 in Tempe, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 27% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $79.0 in Tempe, AZ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $395 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 Tempe, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Tempe, AZ. 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 27% 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,926 in Tempe, AZ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $3,095 in Tempe, AZ – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 40% less than in Tempe, AZ. 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 16% less than in Tempe, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.