Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Upper Marlboro, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Upper Marlboro, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $2,607 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $4,018 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $5,430 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than in Upper Marlboro, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Upper Marlboro, MD 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$22.39 $22.39

-11.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$88.7 $88.7

-5.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$10.13 $10.13

21.13%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$6.05 $6.05

-6.94%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$2.82 $2.82

27.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.55 $2.55

-6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$10.05 $10.05

-22.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$9.85 $9.85

-7.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.31 $1.31

-12.98%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$4.52 $4.52

-19.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$6.93 $6.93

-52.24%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$5.92 $5.92

-25.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$16.63 $16.63

-21.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$16.29 $16.29

-9.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$18.69 $18.69

-6.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$5.00 $5.00

-7.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.65 $1.65

-12.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$5.03 $5.03

-5.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$5.25 $5.25

-5.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.08 $3.08

-2.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.08 $2.08

31.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.06 $2.06

-5.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.70 $2.70

-18.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$14.14 $14.14

-34.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$15.26 $15.26

-2.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.69 $1.69

69.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$4.98 $4.98

-27.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.05 $2.05

-19.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.89 $3.89

-27.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.57 $1.57

1.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$25.35 $25.35

36.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.05 $1.05

-9.52%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$36.6K $36.6K

-2.59%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$27.0K $27.0K

-0.54%

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

$229 $229

$161 $161

42.21%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$80.6 $80.6

-27.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$77.3 $77.3

-10.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$41.77 $41.77

57.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$17.08 $17.08

-18.85%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$2,277 $2,277

-34.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$41.7K $41.7K

-49.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$47.74 $47.74

12.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$35.77 $35.77

24.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$106 $106

-14.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$118 $118

-8.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,416 $1,416

36.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,165 $1,165

8.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$2,476 $2,476

52.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$2,135 $2,135

21.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$2,801 $2,801

161.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$2,065 $2,065

56.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$8,125 $8,125

-37.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.23

3.37%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Upper Marlboro, MD: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $1,416 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Upper Marlboro, MD pays 61% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $89.0 in Upper Marlboro, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $481 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

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 Upper Marlboro, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Upper Marlboro, MD 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 Upper Marlboro, MD the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 61% lower in Upper Marlboro, MD. 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: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $1,416 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,501 in Austin, TX versus $2,277 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Upper Marlboro, MD – a meal for two runs $89.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Upper Marlboro, MD 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 Upper Marlboro, MD 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.