Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Waukesha, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Waukesha, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,486 in Waukesha, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,531 in Waukesha, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $4,576 in Waukesha, WI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 9% more expensive than in Waukesha, WI, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Waukesha, WI 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$16.24 $16.24

22.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$66.0 $66.0

12.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$10.86 $10.86

-9.30%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.25 $5.25

10.29%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.91 $2.91

-5.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.21 $2.21

-1.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.03 $5.03

18.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$6.90 $6.90

17.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.80 $0.80

37.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.90 $2.90

16.21%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.35 $4.35

-0.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$8.85 $8.85

35.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$11.60 $11.60

-8.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$15.09 $15.09

-3.31%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$5.81 $5.81

-13.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.17 $1.17

34.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.53 $4.53

-3.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.00 $3.00

35.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.58 $1.58

75.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.41 $2.41

17.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.75 $1.75

12.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.40 $1.40

59.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$8.85 $8.85

-1.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$11.07 $11.07

32.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.78 $1.78

31.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$1.94 $1.94

78.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.06 $2.06

-26.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.78 $2.78

55.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.43 $1.43

25.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$21.19 $21.19

66.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.79 $0.79

1.27%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.3K $30.3K

-14.97%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.6K $26.6K

0.87%

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

$173 $173

$184 $184

-5.93%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$48.27 $48.27

21.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$63.8 $63.8

5.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$42.76 $42.76

44.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$12.01 $12.01

23.23%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,281 $1,281

10.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$24.3K $24.3K

-8.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$43.62 $43.62

25.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$45.98 $45.98

1.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$78.2 $78.2

12.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$87.8 $87.8

35.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,613 $1,613

36.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,345 $1,345

6.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$1,717 $1,717

119.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,233 $2,233

21.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$2,206 $2,206

232.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,225 $2,225

41.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$4,254 $4,254

19.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.53

-1.23%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Waukesha, WI: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,613 in Waukesha, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 20% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $66.0 in Waukesha, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $337 per month, with Waukesha, WI 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 Waukesha, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Waukesha, WI 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 Waukesha, WI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 20% 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,613 in Waukesha, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $1,281 in Waukesha, WI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Waukesha, WI – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,486 in Waukesha, WI versus $2,701 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Waukesha, WI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Waukesha, WI 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Waukesha, WI 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 Waukesha, WI 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.