Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Texas City, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Texas City, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,746 in Austin, TX versus $1,908 in Texas City, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,137 in Austin, TX versus $2,664 in Texas City, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,527 in Austin, TX versus $3,421 in Texas City, TX.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 44% more expensive than in Texas City, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 106% above, Texas City, TX 43% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$18.16 $18.16

7.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 $74.3

$61.1 $61.1

21.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.11 $10.11

-1.88%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.15 $4.15

35.18%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$1.32 $1.32

99.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.91 $1.91

9.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$4.85 $4.85

22.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$6.89 $6.89

14.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.78 $0.78

41.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.55 $2.55

34.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.48 $3.48

-4.31%

Eggs

$4.36 $4.36

$4.02 $4.02

8.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.20 $12.20

$6.71 $6.71

81.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.50 $10.50

$10.61 $10.61

-1.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$10.31 $10.31

41.71%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$4.80 $4.80

-0.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.55 $1.55

-2.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$4.33 $4.33

6.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.10 $4.10

-0.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.75 $2.75

0.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.00 $2.00

-2.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.25 $2.25

-0.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.08 $9.08

$8.24 $8.24

10.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$10.15 $10.15

46.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.29 $2.29

0.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.41 $3.41

-0.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.98 $0.98

57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.27 $44.27

$40.22 $40.22

10.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 $4.27

$4.28 $4.28

-0.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.81 $1.81

0.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.71 $34.71

$19.60 $19.60

77.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$0.67 $0.67

17.91%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.1K $25.1K

3.63%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

1.08%

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

$174 $174

$172 $172

1.02%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$24.80 $24.80

135.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$66.1 $66.1

1.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 $61.5

$15.18 $15.18

305.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.97 $9.97

Cinema Ticket

$15.29 $15.29

$14.78 $14.78

3.45%

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

$1,379 $1,379

$1,196 $1,196

15.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.9K $21.9K

$22.5K $22.5K

-2.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$54.9 $54.9

3.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.38 $46.38

$46.15 $46.15

0.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 $87.1

$65.6 $65.6

32.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$115 $115

0.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,212 $2,212

$1,117 $1,117

98.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,441 $1,441

$854 $854

68.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,788 $3,788

$1,506 $1,506

151.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$1,010 $1,010

159.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,183 $7,183

$9,282 $9,282

-22.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,138 $3,138

$7,754 $7,754

-59.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,995 $4,995

$4,621 $4,621

8.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

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

Last update for Austin, TX: June 13, 2026

Last update for Texas City, TX: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,212 in Austin, TX and $1,117 in Texas City, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 8% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $61.0 in Texas City, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $326 per month, with Texas City, 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 Texas City, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Texas City, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Texas City, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 8% 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: $2,212 in Austin, TX versus $1,117 in Texas City, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,746 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,908 in Texas City, TX – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Texas City, TX runs roughly 10% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,908 in Texas City, TX versus $2,746 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Texas City, TX but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Texas City, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Texas City, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.