Cost of Living Comparison Between Decatur, IL and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Decatur, IL and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,636 in Decatur, IL versus $2,706 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,500 in Decatur, IL versus $4,169 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,364 in Decatur, IL versus $5,633 in Austin, TX.

Living in Decatur, IL costs roughly 40% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Decatur, IL 22% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.27 $19.27

$19.70 $19.70

-2.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.9 $67.9

$76.0 $76.0

-10.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.09 $9.09

$9.86 $9.86

-7.81%

Cappuccino

$5.16 $5.16

$5.48 $5.48

-5.84%

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

$2.24 $2.24

$2.65 $2.65

-15.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.09 $2.09

-19.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.88 $4.88

$6.09 $6.09

-19.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.10 $6.10

$8.15 $8.15

-25.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.10 $1.10

-29.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 $2.63

$3.39 $3.39

-22.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$3.38 $3.38

-39.64%

Eggs

$3.71 $3.71

$4.39 $4.39

-15.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.77 $8.77

$12.10 $12.10

-27.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.58 $7.58

$10.84 $10.84

-30.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.44 $13.44

$14.68 $14.68

-8.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.96 $4.96

-11.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.51 $1.51

47.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.40 $4.40

2.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$4.10 $4.10

-18.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 $0.85

$2.81 $2.81

-69.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$2.87 $2.87

-62.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.95 $1.95

-22.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.18 $2.18

13.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.88 $6.88

$8.99 $8.99

-23.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.14 $15.14

$15.11 $15.11

0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.33 $2.33

-20.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.43 $3.43

-43.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.54 $1.54

29.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$4.41 $4.41

-33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.83 $1.83

-24.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.43 $29.43

$34.65 $34.65

-15.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.78 $0.78

6.41%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

14.14%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.9K $25.9K

-1.51%

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

$85.2 $85.2

$175 $175

-51.20%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$59.7 $59.7

2.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.3 $63.3

$65.5 $65.5

-3.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.0 $74.0

$61.3 $61.3

20.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$12.16 $12.16

$14.76 $14.76

-17.62%

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

$1,320 $1,320

$1,372 $1,372

-3.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$22.2K $22.2K

6.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.0 $56.0

$56.5 $56.5

-0.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.05 $44.05

$45.29 $45.29

-2.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 $76.5

$85.0 $85.0

-10.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$194 $194

$118 $118

64.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$859 $859

$2,201 $2,201

-60.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$565 $565

$1,403 $1,403

-59.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,019 $1,019

$3,815 $3,815

-73.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$808 $808

$2,680 $2,680

-69.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$950 $950

$7,133 $7,133

-86.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$952 $952

$3,078 $3,078

-69.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,468 $4,468

$5,110 $5,110

-12.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.45

1.71%

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

Last update for Decatur, IL: July 14, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $859 in Decatur, IL and $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 14% 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: $68.0 in Decatur, IL vs $76.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $379 per month, with Decatur, IL 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

Decatur, IL vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Decatur, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 65% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Decatur, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 14% 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: $859 in Decatur, IL versus $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,320 in Decatur, IL versus $1,372 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 Decatur, IL – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,636 in Decatur, IL versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Decatur, IL but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Decatur, IL 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 Decatur, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.