Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Winona, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Winona, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,005 in Winona, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $2,990 in Winona, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $3,976 in Winona, MN.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 34% more expensive than in Winona, MN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Winona, MN 46% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$14.92 $14.92

32.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$57.3 $57.3

46.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.70 $11.70

5.13%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.52 $5.52

-0.72%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$1.70 $1.70

118.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$0.97 $0.97

143.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$4.12 $4.12

88.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$5.84 $5.84

56.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.92 $0.92

22.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$1.40 $1.40

167.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.66 $4.66

-26.39%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$1.84 $1.84

136.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$15.56 $15.56

-15.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$13.39 $13.39

7.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$20.37 $20.37

-15.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.14 $5.14

-12.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$0.64 $0.64

125.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$5.26 $5.26

-11.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.76 $4.76

4.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.75 $2.75

9.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.24 $3.24

-16.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.07 $2.07

-10.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.36 $2.36

-7.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$10.68 $10.68

-11.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.34 $15.34

-1.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.71 $2.71

6.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.48 $4.48

-22.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.01 $2.01

-18.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

$69.1 $69.1

-41.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.97 $3.97

-29.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.05 $2.05

-22.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$44.61 $44.61

-21.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.94 $0.94

-4.26%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$36.3K $36.3K

-1.08%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.0K $25.0K

10.77%

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

$222 $222

$196 $196

13.27%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$29.89 $29.89

94.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$52.8 $52.8

30.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$59.1 $59.1

11.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$10.10 $10.10

36.44%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,752 $1,752

-12.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$23.7K $23.7K

-10.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$63.7 $63.7

-14.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$49.74 $49.74

-11.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$109 $109

-17.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$120 $120

-9.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$884 $884

119.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$710 $710

77.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$1,290 $1,290

191.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,189 $1,189

118.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,647 $1,647

349.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$1,679 $1,679

90.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.26

2.88%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Winona, MN: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $884 in Winona, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $57.0 in Winona, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $403 per month, with Winona, MN 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 Winona, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Winona, MN wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Winona, MN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,042 in Austin, TX and $3,007 in Winona, MN 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 $884 in Winona, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,695 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,005 in Winona, MN – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Winona, MN runs roughly 71% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,005 in Winona, MN versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Winona, MN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Winona, MN 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 Winona, MN 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 Winona, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.