Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Utica, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Utica, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,715 in Austin, TX versus $2,496 in Utica, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Austin, TX versus $3,912 in Utica, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,596 in Austin, TX versus $5,328 in Utica, NY.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 9% more expensive than in Utica, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Utica, NY 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$16.77 $16.77

17.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$75.5 $75.5

12.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.11 $11.11

10.71%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$5.19 $5.19

5.01%

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

$3.62 $3.62

$2.73 $2.73

32.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.70 $1.70

41.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$4.89 $4.89

61.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$6.07 $6.07

46.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.95 $0.95

12.63%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.51 $3.51

4.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.97 $2.97

12.46%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$4.59 $4.59

-6.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$13.28 $13.28

-2.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$10.17 $10.17

40.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$16.09 $16.09

3.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.71 $4.71

-4.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.49 $1.49

-4.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.18 $4.18

9.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$5.16 $5.16

-9.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.59 $1.59

70.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.10 $2.10

22.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.39 $2.39

-20.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.45 $2.45

-10.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$13.68 $13.68

-26.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$12.08 $12.08

24.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.05 $2.05

42.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.46 $3.46

-4.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.52 $1.52

0.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

$42.83 $42.83

-3.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$5.36 $5.36

-49.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.17 $2.17

-23.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$45.07 $45.07

-22.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.88 $0.88

1.14%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$31.7K $31.7K

14.79%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$24.7K $24.7K

9.37%

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

$223 $223

$186 $186

20.17%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$52.8 $52.8

8.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$67.7 $67.7

0.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$40.03 $40.03

63.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$13.05 $13.05

6.90%

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

$1,523 $1,523

$790 $790

92.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$33.0K $33.0K

-35.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$52.2 $52.2

1.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$44.68 $44.68

-4.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$82.8 $82.8

3.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$88.7 $88.7

16.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$1,176 $1,176

65.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$1,254 $1,254

1.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$1,998 $1,998

88.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$2,578 $2,578

-0.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$1,621 $1,621

343.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$1,646 $1,646

90.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$3,619 $3,619

36.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.07

6.59%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Utica, NY: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,948 in Austin, TX and $1,176 in Utica, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $75.0 in Utica, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $378 per month, with Utica, NY 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 Utica, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Utica, NY wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Utica, NY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 37% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $1,176 in Utica, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,715 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,496 in Utica, NY – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Utica, NY runs roughly 3% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,496 in Utica, NY versus $2,715 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Utica, NY but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Utica, NY 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 Utica, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.