Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Urbana, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Urbana, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $1,697 in Urbana, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $2,688 in Urbana, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $3,679 in Urbana, IL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 56% more expensive than in Urbana, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Urbana, IL 23% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$19.70 $19.70

0.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$64.0 $64.0

31.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$9.82 $9.82

24.95%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.59 $5.59

0.72%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$2.16 $2.16

66.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.57 $1.57

51.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.28 $5.28

48.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$5.84 $5.84

55.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.69 $0.69

65.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$2.34 $2.34

55.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.05 $3.05

8.52%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$2.95 $2.95

50.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$6.55 $6.55

98.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$9.00 $9.00

63.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$14.58 $14.58

19.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$3.86 $3.86

19.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.28 $1.28

13.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$2.68 $2.68

77.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$2.26 $2.26

119.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.18 $2.18

38.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.92 $2.92

-6.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.92 $2.92

-33.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.38 $1.38

59.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$7.19 $7.19

28.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$8.53 $8.53

74.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.81 $1.81

58.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$1.33 $1.33

169.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.01 $1.01

63.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.04 $3.04

-7.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$0.64 $0.64

148.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$18.19 $18.19

90.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.87 $0.87

9.20%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$36.4K $36.4K

-1.81%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$26.4K $26.4K

1.55%

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

$229 $229

$203 $203

13.03%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$99.5 $99.5

-41.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$60.4 $60.4

14.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$12.84 $12.84

7.94%

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

$1,501 $1,501

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$75.6 $75.6

-29.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$42.31 $42.31

4.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$66.9 $66.9

35.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$89.9 $89.9

20.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$751 $751

157.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$586 $586

115.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$1,492 $1,492

153.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$1,345 $1,345

92.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$1,639 $1,639

347.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$1,662 $1,662

94.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$6,746 $6,746

-25.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.3

2.22%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Urbana, IL: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $751 in Urbana, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Urbana, IL pays 34% 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 $64.0 in Urbana, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $281 per month, with Urbana, IL 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 Urbana, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Urbana, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Urbana, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 34% lower in Urbana, IL. 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 $751 in Urbana, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,646 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,697 in Urbana, IL – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Austin, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,697 in Urbana, IL versus $2,646 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Urbana, IL but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Urbana, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Urbana, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.