Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Watertown, SD Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Watertown, SD

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,656 in Watertown, SD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,805 in Watertown, SD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,955 in Watertown, SD.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than in Watertown, SD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Watertown, SD 93% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$20.78 $20.78

-4.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$59.2 $59.2

41.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$12.09 $12.09

1.74%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$6.30 $6.30

-13.02%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.98 $2.98

24.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.95 $1.95

21.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.79 $6.79

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$7.81 $7.81

17.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.84 $0.84

34.52%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.54 $3.54

5.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$7.23 $7.23

-52.56%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$3.92 $3.92

10.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$10.40 $10.40

26.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$14.30 $14.30

0.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$19.06 $19.06

-9.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$6.12 $6.12

-26.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.85 $1.85

-22.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$6.58 $6.58

-29.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.14 $5.14

-3.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$4.31 $4.31

-30.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.91 $3.91

-31.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.24 $2.24

-17.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.69 $2.69

-18.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$8.46 $8.46

11.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$16.30 $16.30

-7.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.80 $2.80

3.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$5.82 $5.82

-40.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.27 $2.27

-27.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$5.02 $5.02

-44.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.70 $1.70

-7.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$23.69 $23.69

48.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.01 $1.01

-10.89%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$35.6K $35.6K

0.88%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.4K $25.4K

8.98%

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

$222 $222

$158 $158

40.34%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$56.1 $56.1

3.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$67.5 $67.5

2.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$44.74 $44.74

47.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$15.73 $15.73

-12.40%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,340 $1,340

13.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$36.6K $36.6K

-42.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$57.7 $57.7

-5.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$44.24 $44.24

-0.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$99.5 $99.5

-9.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$105 $105

3.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,589 $1,589

22.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,285 $1,285

-2.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,507 $2,507

50.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,115 $2,115

22.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,760 $2,760

168.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,194 $2,194

46.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.27

2.71%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Watertown, SD: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,589 in Watertown, SD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $59.0 in Watertown, SD. Groceries flip the comparison at $417 vs $462, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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 Watertown, SD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Watertown, SD 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 Watertown, SD the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,042 in Austin, TX and $3,985 in Watertown, SD to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,589 in Watertown, SD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,340 in Watertown, SD. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Watertown, SD – a meal for two runs $59.0 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 $3,000. Watertown, SD 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Watertown, SD are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Watertown, SD 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.