Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, MD and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, MD and Austin, TX

🙂 Solo nomad: Columbia, MD is 6.2% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 19.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Columbia, MD is 18.6% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 6.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Columbia, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.63 $19.63
$19.64 $19.64
-0.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.5 $78.5
$76.2 $76.2
3.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.32 $11.32
$9.95 $9.95
13.77%
Cappuccino
$5 $5
$5.61 $5.61
-10.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.64 $2.64
-8.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.19 $2.19
-0.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.37 $6.37
$5.84 $5.84
9.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.9 $7.9
$7.92 $7.92
-0.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Columbia, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.13 $1.13
4.42%
White Bread (500g)
$3.86 $3.86
$3.3 $3.3
16.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$3.5 $3.5
29.43%
Eggs
$6.47 $6.47
$4.4 $4.4
47.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.3 $13.3
$12 $12
10.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.81 $9.81
$10.68 $10.68
-8.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$14.73 $14.73
10.25%
Apples (1kg)
$6.99 $6.99
$4.88 $4.88
43.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 $1.32
$1.52 $1.52
-13.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.22 $7.22
$4.53 $4.53
59.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$3.92 $3.92
39.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.72 $2.72
3.68%
Onion (1kg)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.76 $2.76
21.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.01 $2.01
20.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.18 $2.18
20.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.05 $11.05
$8.86 $8.86
24.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.71 $16.71
$14.96 $14.96
11.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.34 $2.34
-27.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 $3.85
$3.44 $3.44
11.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Columbia, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.48 $1.48
26.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.9 $72.9
$42.82 $42.82
70.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.75 $1.75
$4.3 $4.3
-59.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.82 $1.82
-25.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.55 $23.55
$34.63 $34.63
-32.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$0.73 $0.73
15.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$25.5K $25.5K
-0.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
-7.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Columbia, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$177 $177
-2.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8 $51.8
$58.9 $58.9
-12.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.8 $74.8
$64.8 $64.8
15.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Columbia, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.84 $49.84
$62.6 $62.6
-20.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.91 $19.91
$10.17 $10.17
95.77%
Cinema Ticket
$14.98 $14.98
$14.72 $14.72
1.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Columbia, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,291 $1,291
$1,378 $1,378
-6.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.1K $33.1K
$22.4K $22.4K
47.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Columbia, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.8 $51.8
$56.3 $56.3
-8.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.7 $70.7
$46.46 $46.46
52.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 $116
$86.7 $86.7
33.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$119 $119
-6.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Columbia, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,060 $2,060
$2,188 $2,188
-5.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,817 $1,817
$1,395 $1,395
30.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,982 $2,982
$3,896 $3,896
-23.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,663 $2,663
$2,689 $2,689
-0.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,303 $2,303
$4,414 $4,414
-47.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,251 $2,251
$3,161 $3,161
-28.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Columbia, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,681 $5,681
$4,871 $4,871
16.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.45
1.86%

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

Last update for Columbia, MD: October 29, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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