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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $1,745 in Wausau, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $2,708 in Wausau, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $3,671 in Wausau, WI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 52% more expensive than Wausau, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Wausau, WI 30% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$18.67 $18.67

5.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$65.2 $65.2

15.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$8.39 $8.39

18.24%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.13 $5.13

10.53%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$3.09 $3.09

-10.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.04 $2.04

6.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$4.97 $4.97

17.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$5.58 $5.58

39.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.81 $0.81

34.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.90 $2.90

17.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.39 $4.39

-21.87%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.30 $4.30

2.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$8.59 $8.59

39.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$6.46 $6.46

66.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$13.52 $13.52

5.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.31 $4.31

12.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.12 $1.12

38.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.97 $3.97

12.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.16 $4.16

-6.01%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.87 $1.87

46.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.12 $2.12

29.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.01 $2.01

1.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.02 $1.02

120.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$8.56 $8.56

4.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$8.73 $8.73

70.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.83 $1.83

28.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.31 $2.31

54.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.95 $1.95

-24.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.82 $2.82

51.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.62 $1.62

13.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$20.89 $20.89

70.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.83 $0.83

-13.25%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.5K $30.5K

-15.71%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.5K $26.5K

-1.16%

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

$174 $174

$164 $164

5.99%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$49.02 $49.02

22.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$64.7 $64.7

2.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$29.66 $29.66

111.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$6.05 $6.05

151.90%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,794 $1,794

-22.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$24.4K $24.4K

-9.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$25.07 $25.07

126.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$45.03 $45.03

0.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$65.7 $65.7

31.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$86.2 $86.2

38.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$921 $921

143.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$711 $711

101.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,582 $1,582

138.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,371 $1,371

92.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$1,680 $1,680

319.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$1,692 $1,692

86.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,500 $3,500

45.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.55

-1.53%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Wausau, WI: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $921 in Wausau, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 46% 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 $65.0 in Wausau, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $297 per month, with Wausau, 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 Wausau, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wausau, WI wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Wausau, WI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 46% 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 $921 in Wausau, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,794 in Wausau, WI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Wausau, WI – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,745 in Wausau, WI versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Wausau, WI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Wausau, 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 Wausau, 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 Wausau, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.