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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Cambridge, MA is 1.5% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 58.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Cambridge, MA is 27.2% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 29.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Cambridge, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.93 $16.93
$19.64 $19.64
-13.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$76.2 $76.2
33.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.83 $11.83
$9.95 $9.95
18.89%
Cappuccino
$5.57 $5.57
$5.61 $5.61
-0.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.64 $2.64
14.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.19 $2.19
10.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.89 $7.89
$5.84 $5.84
35.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.06 $8.06
$7.92 $7.92
1.77%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Cambridge, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.13 $1.13
0.88%
White Bread (500g)
$4.02 $4.02
$3.3 $3.3
21.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$3.5 $3.5
86.29%
Eggs
$4.79 $4.79
$4.4 $4.4
8.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.17 $15.17
$12 $12
26.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.38 $13.38
$10.68 $10.68
25.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.7 $20.7
$14.73 $14.73
40.53%
Apples (1kg)
$6.79 $6.79
$4.88 $4.88
39.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.52 $1.52
27.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.3 $6.3
$4.53 $4.53
39.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.32 $6.32
$3.92 $3.92
61.22%
Potato (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.72 $2.72
19.49%
Onion (1kg)
$3.52 $3.52
$2.76 $2.76
27.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.01 $2.01
17.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.6 $2.6
$2.18 $2.18
19.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.74 $13.74
$8.86 $8.86
55.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.93 $14.93
$14.96 $14.96
-0.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.34 $2.34
-28.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72 $5.72
$3.44 $3.44
66.28%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Cambridge, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.4 $2.4
$1.48 $1.48
62.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.4 $89.4
$42.82 $42.82
108.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 $2.57
$4.3 $4.3
-40.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.82 $1.82
-4.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.31 $28.31
$34.63 $34.63
-18.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$0.73 $0.73
23.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$25.5K $25.5K
16.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.3K $26.3K
-5.44%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cambridge, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 $160
$177 $177
-9.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.7 $52.7
$58.9 $58.9
-10.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.3 $55.3
$64.8 $64.8
-14.73%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Cambridge, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$101 $101
$62.6 $62.6
61.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.36 $30.36
$10.17 $10.17
198.53%
Cinema Ticket
$15.32 $15.32
$14.72 $14.72
4.08%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Cambridge, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,793 $2,793
$1,378 $1,378
102.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.7K $27.7K
$22.4K $22.4K
23.64%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Cambridge, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.2 $67.2
$56.3 $56.3
19.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.67 $44.67
$46.46 $46.46
-3.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$86.7 $86.7
17.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$119 $119
24.81%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Cambridge, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,818 $2,818
$2,188 $2,188
28.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,865 $2,865
$1,395 $1,395
105.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,085 $5,085
$3,896 $3,896
30.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 $3,510
$2,689 $2,689
30.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,887 $4,887
$4,414 $4,414
10.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,940 $4,940
$3,161 $3,161
56.26%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Cambridge, MA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,088 $6,088
$4,871 $4,871
24.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
6.45
-0.31%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cambridge, MA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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