๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Crookston, MN versus $2,719 in Austin, TX.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,907 in Crookston, MN versus $4,117 in Austin, TX.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,157 in Crookston, MN versus $5,515 in Austin, TX.
๐Living in Crookston, MN costs roughly 2% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Crookston, MN98% above, Austin, TX103% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Crookston, MN
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.85$18.85
$19.99$19.99
-5.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2$74.2
$76.2$76.2
-2.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.19$11.19
$10.13$10.13
10.46%
Cappuccino
$4.99$4.99
$5.49$5.49
-9.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59$2.59
$2.72$2.72
-4.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95$1.95
$2.14$2.14
-8.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94$5.94
$6.07$6.07
-2.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18$7.18
$8.04$8.04
-10.70%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Crookston, MN
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05$1.05
$1.09$1.09
-3.67%
White Bread(500g)
$3.41$3.41
$3.34$3.34
2.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.44$4.44
$3.42$3.42
29.82%
Eggs
$4.24$4.24
$4.32$4.32
-1.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.31$12.31
$11.80$11.80
4.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.72$11.72
$10.68$10.68
9.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.18$15.18
$14.50$14.50
4.69%
Apples(1kg)
$4.93$4.93
$4.79$4.79
2.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63$1.63
$1.50$1.50
8.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.21$4.21
$4.51$4.51
-6.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.64$4.64
$4.04$4.04
14.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89$2.89
$2.76$2.76
4.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.82$2.82
$2.79$2.79
1.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.11$2.11
$2.04$2.04
3.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18$2.18
$2.15$2.15
1.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.75$9.75
$9.23$9.23
5.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.19$15.19
$14.81$14.81
2.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84$1.84
$2.29$2.29
-19.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26$3.26
$3.53$3.53
-7.65%
๐ Getting Around
Crookston, MN
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.94$1.94
$1.52$1.52
27.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.9$87.9
$43.64$43.64
101.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.45$3.45
$4.29$4.29
-19.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57$1.57
$1.82$1.82
-13.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.22$29.22
$35.52$35.52
-17.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$0.77$0.77
7.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K$29.7K
$25.6K$25.6K
15.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$26.3K$26.3K
-1.26%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Crookston, MN
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188$188
$172$172
9.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8$51.8
$60.3$60.3
-14.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.5$68.5
$67.2$67.2
1.89%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Crookston, MN
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.40$43.40
$62.8$62.8
-30.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$9.85$9.85
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.62$13.62
$14.73$14.73
-7.54%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Crookston, MN
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,272$1,272
$1,398$1,398
-9.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K$23.3K
$21.8K$21.8K
7.13%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Crookston, MN
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6$50.6
$55.1$55.1
-8.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.04$40.04
$45.66$45.66
-12.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8$87.8
$86.8$86.8
1.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$115$115
-4.13%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Crookston, MN
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603$1,603
$2,245$2,245
-28.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,376$1,376
$1,401$1,401
-1.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,679$2,679
$3,782$3,782
-29.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,262$2,262
$2,708$2,708
-16.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,458$2,458
$7,304$7,304
-66.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,372$2,372
$3,331$3,331
-28.78%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Crookston, MN
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,432$3,432
$4,910$4,910
-30.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
6.45
0.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Crookston, MN: April 20, 2026
Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Crookston, MN and $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐAustin, TX pays 43% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $74 in Crookston, MN vs $76 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $390 vs $375, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.
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
Crookston, MN vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Crookston, MN or Austin, TX?
Crookston, MN wins on cost โ living expenses run 2% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Crookston, MN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Crookston, MN or Austin, TX?
On paper, Austin, TX earns 43% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Crookston, MN vs Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Crookston, MN versus $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Crookston, MN compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $2,657 per month in Crookston, MN versus $2,719 in Austin, TX โ a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Crookston, MN vs Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Crookston, MN runs roughly 101% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Crookston, MN or Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Crookston, MN is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Crookston, MN or Austin, TX?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Crookston, MN compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Crookston, MN and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Crookston, MN gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 2% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Crookston, MN vs other spots: cost of living compared