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: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,564 in West Plains, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,667 in West Plains, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,770 in West Plains, MO.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 6% more expensive than West Plains, MO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, West Plains, MO 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$16.95 $16.95

17.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$61.1 $61.1

24.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$13.17 $13.17

-23.08%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.06 $5.06

8.50%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.59 $2.59

5.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.95 $1.95

9.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.02 $5.02

20.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$5.07 $5.07

58.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.10 $1.10

-0.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.16 $3.16

5.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.32 $4.32

-20.83%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.00 $3.00

44.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$12.14 $12.14

-2.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$9.98 $9.98

7.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$14.40 $14.40

0.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.16 $4.16

15.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$2.16 $2.16

-30.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.62 $4.62

-2.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.61 $4.61

-12.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.75 $2.75

0.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.70 $2.70

3.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.68 $1.68

21.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.19 $2.19

-1.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$8.74 $8.74

5.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$12.10 $12.10

22.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.96 $1.96

16.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.02 $4.02

-12.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.98 $1.98

-23.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$4.84 $4.84

-11.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.47 $1.47

23.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$22.67 $22.67

56.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$30.4K $30.4K

-15.65%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

3.23%

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

$172 $172

$183 $183

-5.76%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$50.1 $50.1

20.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$60.7 $60.7

10.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.16 $42.16

49.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$14.39 $14.39

2.36%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,195 $1,195

17.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$13.0K $13.0K

67.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$54.5 $54.5

1.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$32.89 $32.89

38.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$94.6 $94.6

-8.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$87.7 $87.7

31.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,597 $1,597

40.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,328 $1,328

5.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,607 $2,607

45.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,230 $2,230

21.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,671 $2,671

173.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,625 $2,625

26.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.35

1.57%

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 Plains, MO: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,597 in West Plains, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $61 in West Plains, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $365 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 6% 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 $4,079 in Austin, TX and $3,846 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,597 in West Plains, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,195 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 $61.0 versus $76.0 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 6% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.