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

😐 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 4.1% more expensive than Tucson, AZ without rent, and 7.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 5.9% more expensive than Tucson, AZ without rent, and 16.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Tucson, AZ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.03 $20.03
$18.45 $18.45
8.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.7 $75.7
$75.5 $75.5
0.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 $10.17
$11.95 $11.95
-14.90%
Cappuccino
$5.78 $5.78
$5.54 $5.54
4.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$2.91 $2.91
-8.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.25 $2.25
-5.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.89 $5.89
$5.86 $5.86
0.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.04 $8.04
$7.10 $7.10
13.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Tucson, AZ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$0.90 $0.90
27.78%
White Bread (500g)
$3.42 $3.42
$3.35 $3.35
2.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.43 $3.43
$5.15 $5.15
-33.40%
Eggs
$4.33 $4.33
$4.20 $4.20
3.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.79 $11.79
$10.95 $10.95
7.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.44 $10.44
$11.71 $11.71
-10.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.57 $14.57
$15.21 $15.21
-4.21%
Apples (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$5.01 $5.01
-3.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.91 $1.91
-17.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.50 $4.50
$3.85 $3.85
16.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$4.20 $4.20
-6.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.37 $2.37
14.35%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.50 $2.50
15.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.93 $1.93
2.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.46 $2.46
-11.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.11 $9.11
$8.99 $8.99
1.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.29 $15.29
$15.19 $15.19
0.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.11 $2.11
11.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 $3.56
$3.50 $3.50
1.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Tucson, AZ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 $1.48
$0.71 $0.71
108.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.25 $43.25
$19.71 $19.71
119.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 $4.46
$2.69 $2.69
65.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.36 $1.36
32.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.81 $34.81
$36.20 $36.20
-3.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$0.94 $0.94
-15.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$31.1K $31.1K
-17.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$26.6K $26.6K
1.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Tucson, AZ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$175 $175
$267 $267
-34.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.4 $58.4
$69.4 $69.4
-15.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.9 $66.9
$79.2 $79.2
-15.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Tucson, AZ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.2 $62.2
$40.79 $40.79
52.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.10 $10.10
$9.95 $9.95
1.51%
Cinema Ticket
$14.84 $14.84
$12.76 $12.76
16.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Tucson, AZ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,385 $1,385
$1,082 $1,082
27.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.7K $21.7K
$15.8K $15.8K
37.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Tucson, AZ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.0 $56.0
$50.6 $50.6
10.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.16 $46.16
$38.73 $38.73
19.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.1 $87.1
$84.3 $84.3
3.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$105 $105
10.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Tucson, AZ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,211 $2,211
$1,265 $1,265
74.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,435 $1,435
$1,126 $1,126
27.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,833 $3,833
$2,145 $2,145
78.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,695 $2,695
$1,815 $1,815
48.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,347 $7,347
$3,399 $3,399
116.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,180 $3,180
$2,513 $2,513
26.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Tucson, AZ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,945 $4,945
$3,872 $3,872
27.71%
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: February 28, 2026

Last update for Tucson, AZ: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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