Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Wichita Falls, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Wichita Falls, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $1,839 in Wichita Falls, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $2,791 in Wichita Falls, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $3,743 in Wichita Falls, TX.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 44% more expensive than in Wichita Falls, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Wichita Falls, TX 33% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$15.66 $15.66

26.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$60.2 $60.2

39.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$11.62 $11.62

5.59%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$4.59 $4.59

22.66%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$3.14 $3.14

14.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.78 $2.78

-14.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.92 $4.92

59.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$5.86 $5.86

55.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.78 $0.78

46.15%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.10 $3.10

17.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.91 $3.91

-15.35%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$4.94 $4.94

-10.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$13.06 $13.06

-0.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$8.77 $8.77

67.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$10.81 $10.81

61.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$4.51 $4.51

2.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.78 $1.78

-18.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$4.54 $4.54

4.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$2.24 $2.24

120.98%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.18 $2.18

38.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.69 $1.69

62.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.62 $1.62

20.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.96 $1.96

12.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$8.74 $8.74

70.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.04 $1.04

175.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.48 $1.48

11.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

$44.99 $44.99

-6.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.27 $1.27

122.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$0.88 $0.88

80.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.81 $0.81

17.28%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$34.6K $34.6K

3.30%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

6.47%

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

$229 $229

$310 $310

-26.12%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$50.4 $50.4

16.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$62.1 $62.1

11.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$14.71 $14.71

347.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

$19.90 $19.90

-25.88%

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$8.73 $8.73

58.76%

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

$1,501 $1,501

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$22.68 $22.68

136.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$49.92 $49.92

-11.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$64.5 $64.5

40.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$97.9 $97.9

10.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,071 $1,071

80.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$622 $622

103.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$1,385 $1,385

172.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$1,198 $1,198

116.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$1,489 $1,489

392.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$1,416 $1,416

128.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$3,928 $3,928

28.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.06

6.27%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Wichita Falls, TX: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $1,071 in Wichita Falls, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 28% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $60.0 in Wichita Falls, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $315 per month, with Wichita Falls, TX 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 Wichita Falls, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wichita Falls, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Wichita Falls, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 28% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $1,071 in Wichita Falls, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Wichita Falls, TX – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Wichita Falls, TX runs roughly 7% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,839 in Wichita Falls, TX versus $2,646 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Wichita Falls, TX but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Wichita Falls, TX 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 Wichita Falls, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.