Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Van Wert, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Van Wert, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,603 in Van Wert, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,763 in Van Wert, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,922 in Van Wert, OH.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 2% more expensive than Van Wert, OH, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Van Wert, OH 94% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$20.28 $20.28

-3.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$79.1 $79.1

-5.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$11.16 $11.16

-11.11%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.76 $4.76

19.12%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.55 $2.55

8.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.27 $2.27

-4.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.67 $5.67

3.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.94 $6.94

11.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.91 $0.91

19.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.99 $2.99

14.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.07 $4.07

-15.72%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.26 $3.26

34.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$10.22 $10.22

16.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$14.12 $14.12

-23.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$16.00 $16.00

-10.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$6.12 $6.12

-20.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.30 $1.30

19.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.48 $5.48

-18.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.05 $5.05

-22.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.76 $3.76

-27.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.06 $3.06

-10.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.18 $2.18

-6.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.16 $2.16

4.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$8.52 $8.52

4.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.89 $14.89

-0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.95 $1.95

20.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.50 $2.50

42.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.98 $1.98

-25.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.92 $2.92

46.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.26 $1.26

46.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$26.52 $26.52

34.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.84 $0.84

-14.29%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.7K $29.7K

-13.34%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

3.02%

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

$174 $174

$181 $181

-4.04%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$61.3 $61.3

-1.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$68.9 $68.9

-3.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.51 $43.51

44.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$12.14 $12.14

25.54%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,223 $1,223

13.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$15.4K $15.4K

44.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$55.6 $55.6

2.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$38.83 $38.83

16.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$82.6 $82.6

4.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$104 $104

14.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,613 $1,613

39.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,361 $1,361

5.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,584 $2,584

46.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,207 $2,207

19.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,697 $2,697

161.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,410 $2,410

31.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$4,231 $4,231

20.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Van Wert, OH: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,613 in Van Wert, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 21% 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $79.0 in Van Wert, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $400 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 Van Wert, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Van Wert, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Van Wert, OH the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 21% more on average, 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,613 in Van Wert, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,223 in Van Wert, OH. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Van Wert, OH – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Van Wert, OH 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 Van Wert, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.