Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and Austin, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Boston, MA is 28.2% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 55.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Boston, MA is 32.9% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 40.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boston, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.36 $25.36
$20.03 $20.03
26.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$126 $126
$75.7 $75.7
66.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.22 $11.22
$10.17 $10.17
10.32%
Cappuccino
$5.45 $5.45
$5.78 $5.78
-5.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.65 $2.65
11.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.12 $2.12
16.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.84 $7.84
$5.89 $5.89
33.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.20 $9.20
$8.04 $8.04
14.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boston, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.15 $1.15
13.91%
White Bread (500g)
$4.26 $4.26
$3.42 $3.42
24.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.35 $6.35
$3.43 $3.43
85.13%
Eggs
$4.61 $4.61
$4.33 $4.33
6.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.83 $16.83
$11.79 $11.79
42.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.83 $13.83
$10.44 $10.44
32.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.24 $20.24
$14.57 $14.57
38.92%
Apples (1kg)
$5.90 $5.90
$4.82 $4.82
22.41%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.57 $1.57
34.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.23 $6.23
$4.50 $4.50
38.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.87 $7.87
$3.93 $3.93
100.25%
Potato (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$2.71 $2.71
66.79%
Onion (1kg)
$3.77 $3.77
$2.88 $2.88
30.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.97 $1.97
39.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.18 $2.18
14.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.49 $13.49
$9.11 $9.11
48.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.36 $17.36
$15.29 $15.29
13.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.36 $2.36
23.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.47 $5.47
$3.56 $3.56
53.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Boston, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.48 $1.48
63.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.1 $89.1
$43.25 $43.25
105.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.46 $4.46
-43.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.80 $1.80
-1.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.09 $28.09
$34.81 $34.81
-19.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$0.79 $0.79
17.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$25.8K $25.8K
15.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$26.8K $26.8K
-6.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boston, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 $194
$175 $175
11.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.9 $57.9
$58.4 $58.4
-0.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.8 $76.8
$66.9 $66.9
14.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boston, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$81.1 $81.1
$62.2 $62.2
30.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.94 $30.94
$10.10 $10.10
206.34%
Cinema Ticket
$15.48 $15.48
$14.84 $14.84
4.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boston, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,767 $2,767
$1,385 $1,385
99.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.1K $27.1K
$21.7K $21.7K
24.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boston, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.1 $67.1
$56.0 $56.0
19.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.00 $44.00
$46.16 $46.16
-4.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$87.1 $87.1
16.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 $150
$116 $116
29.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boston, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,401 $3,401
$2,211 $2,211
53.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,637 $2,637
$1,435 $1,435
83.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,146 $6,146
$3,833 $3,833
60.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,010 $4,010
$2,695 $2,695
48.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.9K $12.9K
$7,347 $7,347
75.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,399 $6,399
$3,180 $3,180
101.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boston, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,390 $6,390
$4,945 $4,945
29.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
6.45
-0.31%

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

Last update for Boston, MA: March 1, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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