Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Tuscaloosa, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Tuscaloosa, AL

😐 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 1.7% more expensive than Tuscaloosa, AL without rent, and 30.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 12.6% more expensive than Tuscaloosa, AL without rent, and 18.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Tuscaloosa, AL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.64 $19.64
$16.52 $16.52
18.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2 $76.2
$63.5 $63.5
20.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$9.95 $9.95
-
Cappuccino
$5.61 $5.61
$5.19 $5.19
8.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.5 $2.5
5.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.61 $1.61
36.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$4.95 $4.95
17.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$6.41 $6.41
23.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Tuscaloosa, AL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.12 $1.12
0.89%
White Bread (500g)
$3.3 $3.3
$3.56 $3.56
-7.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$7.77 $7.77
-54.95%
Eggs
$4.4 $4.4
$3.69 $3.69
19.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12 $12
$12.44 $12.44
-3.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.68 $10.68
$14.38 $14.38
-25.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 $14.73
$19.27 $19.27
-23.56%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$6.56 $6.56
-25.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.03 $2.03
-25.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$11.12 $11.12
-59.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$6.13 $6.13
-36.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.79 $1.79
51.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$4.09 $4.09
-32.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.5 $2.5
-19.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.1 $2.1
3.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.86 $8.86
$8.65 $8.65
2.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.96 $14.96
$15.63 $15.63
-4.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.76 $1.76
32.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$4.87 $4.87
-29.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Tuscaloosa, AL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.95 $1.95
-24.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.82 $42.82
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.3 $4.3
$3.47 $3.47
23.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.48 $1.48
22.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.63 $34.63
$29.3 $29.3
18.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$0.76 $0.76
-3.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$29.2K $29.2K
-12.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$25.4K $25.4K
3.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Tuscaloosa, AL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 $177
$183 $183
-3.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$53.4 $53.4
10.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.8 $64.8
$72.4 $72.4
-10.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Tuscaloosa, AL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.6 $62.6
$58.7 $58.7
6.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17 $10.17
$39.42 $39.42
-74.20%
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$14.76 $14.76
-0.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Tuscaloosa, AL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,378 $1,378
$1,288 $1,288
7.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$23.5K $23.5K
-4.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Tuscaloosa, AL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 $56.3
$44.16 $44.16
27.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46 $46.46
$31.03 $31.03
49.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 $86.7
$56.2 $56.2
54.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$68.6 $68.6
73.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Tuscaloosa, AL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 $2,188
$1,110 $1,110
97.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 $1,395
$774 $774
80.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,896 $3,896
$2,996 $2,996
30.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$1,821 $1,821
47.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,414 $4,414
$1,800 $1,800
145.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,161 $3,161
$1,840 $1,840
71.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Tuscaloosa, AL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,871 $4,871
$3,745 $3,745
30.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.5
-0.77%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Tuscaloosa, AL: October 28, 2025

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