Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and The Villages, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and The Villages, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,732 in Austin, TX versus $2,527 in The Villages, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,139 in Austin, TX versus $3,699 in The Villages, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,545 in Austin, TX versus $4,871 in The Villages, FL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 8% more expensive than in The Villages, FL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 105% above, The Villages, FL 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$20.19 $20.19

-3.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$40.22 $40.22

87.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 $9.89

$11.12 $11.12

-11.06%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.88 $4.88

12.50%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$1.72 $1.72

56.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.98 $1.98

7.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$4.95 $4.95

19.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$10.42 $10.42

-24.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.17 $1.17

-1.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.29 $4.29

-22.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.76 $3.76

-7.45%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$4.21 $4.21

4.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.79 $11.79

$12.44 $12.44

-5.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 $10.65

$11.57 $11.57

-7.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.45 $15.45

-4.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.98 $4.98

-3.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.65 $1.65

-4.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$8.19 $8.19

-46.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$4.74 $4.74

-15.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.85 $2.85

-4.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.81 $2.81

1.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.91 $1.91

6.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.21 $2.21

1.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.78 $8.78

$9.84 $9.84

-10.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.03 $15.03

$15.27 $15.27

-1.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.76 $1.76

29.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.46 $3.46

0.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.95 $1.95

-21.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.99 $43.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.30 $4.30

$3.41 $3.41

26.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.60 $1.60

13.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$29.02 $29.02

21.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.83 $0.83

-12.05%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$29.4K $29.4K

-12.11%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$27.5K $27.5K

-3.56%

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

$172 $172

$187 $187

-7.77%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$53.8 $53.8

8.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 $66.1

$49.58 $49.58

33.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 $63.6

$43.36 $43.36

46.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.15 $10.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$13.30 $13.30

13.16%

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

$1,399 $1,399

$1,300 $1,300

7.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$23.6K $23.6K

-6.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$52.1 $52.1

8.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.66 $46.66

$40.67 $40.67

14.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 $86.4

$60.1 $60.1

43.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$114 $114

4.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$1,577 $1,577

41.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,399 $1,399

$1,357 $1,357

3.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,821 $3,821

$3,225 $3,225

18.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$2,248 $2,248

17.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,237 $7,237

$2,772 $2,772

161.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,127 $3,127

$2,438 $2,438

28.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,009 $5,009

$6,467 $6,467

-22.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

5.96

8.22%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 26, 2026

Last update for The Villages, FL: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,228 in Austin, TX and $1,577 in The Villages, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

The Villages, FL pays 29% 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 $40.00 in The Villages, FL. Groceries flip the comparison at $378 vs $414, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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 The Villages, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

The Villages, FL wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making The Villages, FL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 29% lower in The Villages, FL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,228 in Austin, TX versus $1,577 in The Villages, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,399 in Austin, TX versus $1,300 in The Villages, FL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in The Villages, FL – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. The Villages, FL 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 The Villages, FL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.