Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Waco, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Waco, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,744 in Waco, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,748 in Waco, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,753 in Waco, TX.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 1% less than in Waco, TX, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Waco, TX 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$19.87 $19.87

0.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$62.0 $62.0

22.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.02 $10.02

1.10%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.56 $5.56

-1.26%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.13 $2.13

27.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.48 $1.48

44.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.90 $5.90

2.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$4.95 $4.95

62.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.02 $1.02

6.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.85 $2.85

17.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.60 $2.60

31.54%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.40 $4.40

-1.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$12.22 $12.22

-3.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$10.76 $10.76

-0.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$11.60 $11.60

25.00%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$3.86 $3.86

24.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.17 $1.17

28.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.90 $3.90

15.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.74 $3.74

8.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.86 $2.86

-3.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.72 $2.72

2.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.59 $1.59

28.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.79 $1.79

20.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$7.85 $7.85

17.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$13.56 $13.56

9.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.72 $1.72

33.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.44 $3.44

2.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.51 $1.51

0.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$39.98 $39.98

9.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$4.51 $4.51

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.83 $1.83

-0.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$35.35 $35.35

0.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.73 $0.73

5.48%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

-1.05%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.79%

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

$172 $172

-0.18%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$60.1 $60.1

0.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$65.7 $65.7

2.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$27.12 $27.12

131.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$9.74 $9.74

51.23%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$866 $866

61.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$22.1K $22.1K

-1.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$52.2 $52.2

5.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$46.56 $46.56

-1.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$79.6 $79.6

9.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$117 $117

-1.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,198 $1,198

87.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,574 $1,574

-11.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,421 $2,421

56.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,222 $2,222

21.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$1,935 $1,935

277.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$1,940 $1,940

71.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$3,273 $3,273

50.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Waco, TX: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,198 in Waco, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $62 in Waco, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $337 per month, with Waco, 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 Waco, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX and Waco, TX differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($2,719 vs $2,744 including rent). Austin, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Austin, TX pays 50% 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,198 in Waco, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,744 in Waco, TX – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 9% less than in Waco, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,744 in Waco, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Austin, TX but tight or insufficient in Waco, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Austin, TX 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Waco, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.