Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and West Plains, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and West Plains, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,500 in West Plains, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,628 in West Plains, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,756 in West Plains, MO.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 8% more expensive than in West Plains, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, West Plains, MO 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$16.74 $16.74

18.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$74.6 $74.6

12.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$10.79 $10.79

13.99%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.07 $5.07

8.09%

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

$2.44 $2.44

-3.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.43 $5.43

42.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.69 $6.69

36.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.11 $1.11

1.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.77 $2.77

35.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.68 $2.68

27.99%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$3.55 $3.55

22.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$9.89 $9.89

32.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$12.05 $12.05

19.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$21.95 $21.95

-21.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.87 $4.87

-7.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.40 $1.40

2.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.72 $2.72

71.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.94 $3.94

26.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.74 $2.74

9.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.48 $2.48

8.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.94 $1.94

-4.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.86 $1.86

17.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$9.74 $9.74

-2.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$12.10 $12.10

24.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.76 $1.76

64.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$1.70 $1.70

105.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.78 $1.78

-7.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.53 $2.53

11.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.49 $1.49

6.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$24.27 $24.27

44.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.85 $0.85

5.88%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$36.7K $36.7K

-2.17%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$26.3K $26.3K

5.04%

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

$222 $222

$221 $221

0.47%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$60.0 $60.0

-2.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$69.6 $69.6

-0.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$42.26 $42.26

56.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$12.77 $12.77

7.91%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,039 $1,039

46.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$19.2K $19.2K

10.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$52.2 $52.2

4.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$38.87 $38.87

13.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$83.2 $83.2

7.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$149 $149

-27.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,525 $1,525

27.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,269 $1,269

-0.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,334 $2,334

61.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,901 $1,901

36.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,642 $2,642

180.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,095 $2,095

52.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.25

3.04%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for West Plains, MO: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,525 in West Plains, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $75.0 in West Plains, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $362 per month, with West Plains, MO 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 Plains, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

West Plains, MO wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making West Plains, MO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,042 in Austin, TX and $3,749 in West Plains, MO 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 $1,525 in West Plains, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,039 in West Plains, MO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in West Plains, MO – a meal for two runs $75.0 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 $2,000. West Plains, MO 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 West Plains, MO 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 West Plains, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.