Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and West Monroe, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and West Monroe, LA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,434 in West Monroe, LA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,515 in West Monroe, LA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,596 in West Monroe, LA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 12% more expensive than West Monroe, LA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, West Monroe, LA 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$15.01 $15.01

33.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$55.9 $55.9

36.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$9.85 $9.85

2.84%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$6.12 $6.12

-10.29%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.06 $2.06

32.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.28 $1.28

67.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.07 $5.07

19.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$4.24 $4.24

89.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.26 $1.26

-13.49%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.02 $3.02

10.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.37 $2.37

44.30%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.09 $3.09

39.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$13.40 $13.40

-11.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.10 $11.10

-3.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$16.41 $16.41

-11.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$2.82 $2.82

69.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$2.09 $2.09

-28.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.25 $3.25

38.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$1.29 $1.29

213.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.23 $2.23

23.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.34 $1.34

108.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.98 $1.98

3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.85 $1.85

16.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$8.14 $8.14

13.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$12.08 $12.08

22.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.89 $1.89

21.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.85 $2.85

23.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.02 $2.02

-24.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.91 $3.91

9.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.21 $1.21

50.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$60.1 $60.1

-40.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.80 $0.80

-3.75%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$37.2K $37.2K

-31.16%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$24.4K $24.4K

7.69%

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

$172 $172

$138 $138

24.69%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$43.96 $43.96

37.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$74.1 $74.1

-9.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.07 $43.07

45.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$11.95 $11.95

23.26%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,274 $1,274

9.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$9,955 $9,955

118.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$35.55 $35.55

55.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$42.35 $42.35

7.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$71.9 $71.9

20.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$77.3 $77.3

49.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,601 $1,601

40.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,331 $1,331

5.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,610 $2,610

44.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,223 $2,223

21.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,719 $2,719

168.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,362 $2,362

41.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.61

-2.42%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for West Monroe, LA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,601 in West Monroe, LA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $56 in West Monroe, LA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $335 per month, with West Monroe, LA 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 West Monroe, LA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

West Monroe, LA wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making West Monroe, LA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,079 in Austin, TX and $3,651 in West Monroe, LA 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,601 in West Monroe, LA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,274 in West Monroe, LA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in West Monroe, LA – a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,434 in West Monroe, LA versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in West Monroe, LA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes West Monroe, LA 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 West Monroe, LA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.