Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Traverse City, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Traverse City, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Austin, TX versus $2,639 in Traverse City, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,872 in Traverse City, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,546 in Austin, TX versus $5,104 in Traverse City, MI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than Traverse City, MI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Traverse City, MI 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.85 $19.85

$17.66 $17.66

12.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$69.9 $69.9

6.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$9.68 $9.68

3.62%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$4.54 $4.54

21.59%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.48 $2.48

12.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.56 $1.56

34.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.48 $5.48

10.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 $7.81

$6.08 $6.08

28.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.90 $0.90

25.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.52 $3.52

-1.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.37 $4.37

-21.74%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$3.29 $3.29

32.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$15.51 $15.51

-21.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 $10.79

$12.30 $12.30

-12.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 $14.36

$14.72 $14.72

-2.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$6.76 $6.76

-26.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$0.91 $0.91

65.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.25 $3.25

34.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$5.64 $5.64

-29.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.21 $2.21

23.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.49 $3.49

-20.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.41 $2.41

-17.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.51 $2.51

-9.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.74 $8.74

$8.80 $8.80

-0.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$14.80 $14.80

0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.84 $1.84

22.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.59 $3.59

-0.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$5.96 $5.96

-74.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.09 $43.09

$30.58 $30.58

40.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 $4.45

$4.76 $4.76

-6.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.61 $1.61

12.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$28.67 $28.67

23.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.90 $0.90

-17.78%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.1K $25.1K

1.78%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.9K $24.9K

6.24%

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

$170 $170

$119 $119

42.57%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$45.69 $45.69

31.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$61.4 $61.4

9.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 $61.6

$69.7 $69.7

-11.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$10.83 $10.83

39.80%

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

$1,381 $1,381

$956 $956

44.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$20.8K $20.8K

4.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$63.7 $63.7

-10.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.94 $45.94

$55.4 $55.4

-17.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$98.6 $98.6

-12.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$95.8 $95.8

24.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,806 $1,806

20.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 $1,417

$1,442 $1,442

-1.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,801 $3,801

$3,843 $3,843

-1.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,711 $2,711

$2,289 $2,289

18.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,204 $7,204

$5,072 $5,072

42.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,239 $3,239

$3,558 $3,558

-8.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,914 $4,914

$2,725 $2,725

80.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.35

1.57%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 27, 2026

Last update for Traverse City, MI: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,183 in Austin, TX and $1,806 in Traverse City, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 80% 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 $70.0 in Traverse City, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $407, 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 Traverse City, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Traverse City, MI wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Traverse City, MI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 80% 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: $2,183 in Austin, TX versus $1,806 in Traverse City, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,657 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,639 in Traverse City, MI – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Traverse City, MI runs roughly 41% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Traverse City, MI 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 Traverse City, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.