😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,238 in Troy, NY.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,448 in Troy, NY.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,659 in Troy, NY.
🌍Living in Austin, TX is roughly 21% more expensive than in Troy, NY, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX103% above, Troy, NY68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Troy, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.70$19.70
$19.31$19.31
2.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.0$76.0
$72.6$72.6
4.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.86$9.86
$11.95$11.95
-17.49%
Cappuccino
$5.48$5.48
$6.13$6.13
-10.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65$2.65
$2.10$2.10
26.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$1.79$1.79
16.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.09$6.09
$5.83$5.83
4.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.15$8.15
$5.93$5.93
37.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Troy, NY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10$1.10
$1.04$1.04
5.77%
White Bread(500g)
$3.39$3.39
$3.33$3.33
1.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.38$3.38
$5.71$5.71
-40.81%
Eggs
$4.39$4.39
$3.81$3.81
15.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.10$12.10
$14.11$14.11
-14.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.84$10.84
$13.50$13.50
-19.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.68$14.68
$17.33$17.33
-15.29%
Apples(1kg)
$4.96$4.96
$3.72$3.72
33.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51$1.51
$1.44$1.44
4.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.40$4.40
$3.86$3.86
13.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.10$4.10
$4.08$4.08
0.49%
Potato(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$3.00$3.00
-6.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87$2.87
$2.45$2.45
17.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.95$1.95
$1.94$1.94
0.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18$2.18
$1.58$1.58
37.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.99$8.99
$12.84$12.84
-29.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.11$15.11
$13.89$13.89
8.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33$2.33
$1.75$1.75
33.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43$3.43
$3.36$3.36
2.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Troy, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.54$1.54
$1.32$1.32
16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.15$44.15
$65.0$65.0
-32.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.41$4.41
$3.07$3.07
43.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.83$1.83
$1.36$1.36
34.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.65$34.65
$27.44$27.44
26.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$0.92$0.92
-15.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$29.9K$29.9K
-13.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$25.3K$25.3K
2.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Troy, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$175$175
$196$196
-10.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.7$59.7
$52.7$52.7
13.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.5$65.5
$66.4$66.4
-1.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Troy, NY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3$61.3
$43.63$43.63
40.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.89$9.89
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.76$14.76
$15.27$15.27
-3.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Troy, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,372$1,372
$1,389$1,389
-1.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.2K$22.2K
$28.0K$28.0K
-20.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Troy, NY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.5$56.5
$46.87$46.87
20.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.29$45.29
$34.34$34.34
31.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0$85.0
$82.5$82.5
3.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118$118
$104$104
13.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Troy, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,201$2,201
$1,206$1,206
82.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,403$1,403
$911$911
53.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,815$3,815
$3,000$3,000
27.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,680$2,680
$1,791$1,791
49.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,133$7,133
$2,534$2,534
181.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,078$3,078
$2,493$2,493
23.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Troy, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,110$5,110
$7,645$7,645
-33.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
6.45
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026
Last update for Troy, NY: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,206 in Troy, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Troy, NY pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $73.0 in Troy, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $391, 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 Troy, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Troy, NY?
Troy, NY wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Troy, NY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Troy, NY?
On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Troy, NY. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Troy, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,206 in Troy, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Troy, NY?
All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,238 in Troy, NY – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Troy, NY?
A monthly transit pass in Troy, NY runs roughly 47% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Austin, TX or in Troy, NY?
At $2,238 in Troy, NY versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Troy, NY but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Troy, NY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Austin, TX or Troy, NY?
Both work as nomad bases, but Troy, NY delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,238 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Troy, NY hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Troy, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared