Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbus, IN and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbus, IN and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,138 in Columbus, IN versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,216 in Columbus, IN versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,293 in Columbus, IN versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Columbus, IN costs roughly 20% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Columbus, IN 60% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.66 $16.66

$19.63 $19.63

-15.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.9 $59.9

$75.1 $75.1

-20.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$9.92 $9.92

0.30%

Cappuccino

$4.21 $4.21

$5.67 $5.67

-25.75%

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

$2.38 $2.38

$2.77 $2.77

-14.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.17 $2.17

-20.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.27 $9.27

$5.84 $5.84

58.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.90 $11.90

$7.77 $7.77

53.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.09 $1.09

-32.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 $2.37

$3.41 $3.41

-30.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.43 $3.43

-17.78%

Eggs

$2.35 $2.35

$4.39 $4.39

-46.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.24 $11.24

$11.95 $11.95

-5.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.48 $17.48

$10.76 $10.76

62.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.54 $9.54

$14.29 $14.29

-33.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$4.84 $4.84

-9.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.55 $1.55

-20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$4.46 $4.46

-4.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$3.91 $3.91

11.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.74 $2.74

8.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.74 $2.74

10.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.04 $2.04

0.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 $0.43

$2.25 $2.25

-80.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.45 $7.45

$8.93 $8.93

-16.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.89 $14.89

$14.85 $14.85

0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.35 $2.35

-24.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.57 $3.57

36.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.47 $1.47

39.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.28 $4.28

-20.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.84 $1.84

-12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.68 $28.68

$35.54 $35.54

-19.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.72 $0.72

20.83%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$25.7K $25.7K

15.65%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.52%

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

$204 $204

$174 $174

17.69%

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

$45.45 $45.45

$60.2 $60.2

-24.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.7 $64.7

$66.3 $66.3

-2.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.23 $45.23

$62.8 $62.8

-27.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.36 $34.36

$9.83 $9.83

249.54%

Cinema Ticket

$12.21 $12.21

$15.24 $15.24

-19.88%

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

$555 $555

$1,387 $1,387

-59.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,058 $5,058

$22.2K $22.2K

-77.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.32 $46.32

$56.7 $56.7

-18.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.69 $39.69

$45.34 $45.34

-12.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 $75.1

$86.5 $86.5

-13.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 $106

$119 $119

-11.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 $1,203

$2,247 $2,247

-46.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$985 $985

$1,430 $1,430

-31.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,837 $1,837

$3,778 $3,778

-51.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,786 $1,786

$2,641 $2,641

-32.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,644 $1,644

$7,044 $7,044

-76.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,641 $1,641

$3,162 $3,162

-48.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,043 $4,043

$5,108 $5,108

-20.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.45

1.40%

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

Last update for Columbus, IN: May 31, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,203 in Columbus, IN and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 26% 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: $60.0 in Columbus, IN vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $347 vs $377 per month, with Columbus, IN 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

Columbus, IN vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Columbus, IN wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Columbus, IN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Austin, TX earns 26% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,203 in Columbus, IN versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $555 in Columbus, IN versus $1,387 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Columbus, IN – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,138 in Columbus, IN versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Columbus, IN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Columbus, IN 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 Columbus, IN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.