Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Wheaton, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Wheaton, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,423 in Wheaton, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,852 in Wheaton, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $5,281 in Wheaton, IL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 12% more expensive than Wheaton, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Wheaton, IL 81% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$15.22 $15.22

31.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$74.2 $74.2

2.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.89 $10.89

-6.98%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.53 $5.53

-0.72%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.71 $2.71

0.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.32 $2.32

-7.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.86 $5.86

3.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$7.34 $7.34

9.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.82 $0.82

32.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.68 $3.68

-9.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.29 $3.29

3.95%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.31 $4.31

0.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$10.12 $10.12

16.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$8.64 $8.64

23.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$11.34 $11.34

27.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.53 $4.53

5.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.55 $1.55

-3.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.48 $3.48

29.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.58 $3.58

12.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.78 $1.78

55.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.44 $2.44

14.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.76 $1.76

15.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.03 $2.03

5.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$10.13 $10.13

-8.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$11.76 $11.76

25.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.32 $2.32

-1.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.92 $2.92

20.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$4.90 $4.90

-68.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$100 $100

-56.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$4.55 $4.55

-5.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$0.76 $0.76

139.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$42.15 $42.15

-15.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.97 $0.97

-20.62%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$22.6K $22.6K

13.63%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.1K $25.1K

4.84%

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

$172 $172

$171 $171

0.71%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$50.3 $50.3

19.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$60.1 $60.1

11.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.76 $42.76

46.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$11.16 $11.16

31.99%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,618 $1,618

-13.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$24.8K $24.8K

-12.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$45.40 $45.40

21.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$48.94 $48.94

-6.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$66.1 $66.1

31.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$85.3 $85.3

35.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,477 $1,477

51.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,213 $1,213

15.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,918 $2,918

29.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,551 $2,551

6.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$5,476 $5,476

-10.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.52

-1.07%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Wheaton, IL: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,477 in Wheaton, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wheaton, IL pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $74 in Wheaton, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $329 per month, with Wheaton, IL 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 Wheaton, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wheaton, IL 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 Wheaton, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Wheaton, IL earns 12% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,477 in Wheaton, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,423 in Wheaton, IL – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Wheaton, IL runs roughly 130% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,423 in Wheaton, IL versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Wheaton, IL but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Wheaton, IL 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 Wheaton, IL 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 Wheaton, IL 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.