Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dayton, OH and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Dayton, OH: $2,214 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

107

Cost of Living Index in Dayton, OH
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Dayton, OH Living Index
129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Dayton, OH

🇺🇸 United States

$2,214

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,698

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dayton, OH and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Dayton, OH and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,214 in Dayton, OH versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

Dayton, OH $2,214
Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,280 in Dayton, OH versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

Dayton, OH $3,280
Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,345 in Dayton, OH versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

Dayton, OH $4,345
Austin, TX $5,622

Living in Dayton, OH costs roughly 18% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dayton, OH 63% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.47 $14.47

$20.63 $20.63

-29.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.1 $71.1

$84.6 $84.6

-15.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 $9.90

$12.07 $12.07

-17.98%

Cappuccino

$4.25 $4.25

$5.48 $5.48

-22.45%

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

$2.24 $2.24

$3.80 $3.80

-41.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.47 $2.47

-24.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.62 $4.62

$8.05 $8.05

-42.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.93 $5.93

$8.88 $8.88

-33.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.11 $1.11

-28.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.72 $3.72

-26.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$3.37 $3.37

11.87%

Eggs

$3.61 $3.61

$4.32 $4.32

-16.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.32 $13.32

$13.13 $13.13

1.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.28 $24.28

$14.15 $14.15

71.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.25 $17.25

$16.33 $16.33

5.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$4.55 $4.55

29.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.46 $1.46

32.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.23 $7.23

$4.71 $4.71

53.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$4.15 $4.15

26.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.58 $2.58

4.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.35 $2.35

34.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.77 $1.77

24.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.14 $2.14

29.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.68 $9.68

$10.10 $10.10

-4.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.70 $19.70

$15.19 $15.19

29.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.82 $2.82

-37.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.44 $3.44

3.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.02 $4.02

$1.54 $1.54

161.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.33 $49.33

$40.99 $40.99

20.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.80 $2.80

81.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.60 $1.60

13.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.9 $50.9

$34.34 $34.34

48.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.94 $0.94

9.57%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$34.0K $34.0K

-18.98%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

0.04%

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

$205 $205

$223 $223

-8.09%

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

$50.2 $50.2

$58.9 $58.9

-14.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.1 $59.1

$70.6 $70.6

-16.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.95 $32.95

$57.7 $57.7

-42.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.30 $45.30

$16.53 $16.53

174.05%

Cinema Ticket

$14.14 $14.14

$14.26 $14.26

-0.84%

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

$529 $529

$1,511 $1,511

-64.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,520 $6,520

$20.9K $20.9K

-68.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.13 $39.13

$51.3 $51.3

-23.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.07 $47.07

$44.17 $44.17

6.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.4 $70.4

$87.0 $87.0

-19.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$104 $104

17.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,194 $1,194

$1,940 $1,940

-38.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$901 $901

$1,316 $1,316

-31.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,597 $1,597

$3,664 $3,664

-56.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,398 $1,398

$2,565 $2,565

-45.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,354 $7,354

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 $1,451

$3,129 $3,129

-53.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,416 $3,416

$5,286 $5,286

-35.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.74

6.79

-0.74%

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

Last update for Dayton, OH: October 19, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Dayton, OH

$901 40.7%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.8% 46.2% $416

Groceries & Markets

Dayton, OH

$486 21.9%

Austin, TX

$406 15.1% 16.4% $80

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Dayton, OH

$314 14.2%

Austin, TX

$352 13.1% 12.2% $38

Eating Out

Dayton, OH

$248 11.2%

Austin, TX

$350 13% 41.2% $102

Clothing & Footwear

Dayton, OH

$126 5.7%

Austin, TX

$129 4.8% 2.8% $3.5

Getting Around

Dayton, OH

$80 3.6%

Austin, TX

$58 2.2% 27.2% $22

Sport & Entertainment

Dayton, OH

$61 2.8%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 40.8% $25

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,194 in Dayton, OH and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 55% 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: $71.0 in Dayton, OH vs $85.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $486 vs $406, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Dayton, OH

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

00:28 12:28 AM

23:28 11:28 PM

1 h behind Dayton, OH

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

156,771

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Dayton, OH Austin, TX 1,620 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Dayton, OH
Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Dayton, OH vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dayton, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dayton, OH the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 55% lower in Austin, TX. 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: $1,194 in Dayton, OH versus $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,214 per month in Dayton, OH versus $2,698 in Austin, TX – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dayton, OH runs roughly 20% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,214 in Dayton, OH versus $2,698 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dayton, OH but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Dayton, OH 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 Dayton, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.