Cost of Living Comparison Between Denton, TX and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Denton, TX and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,250 in Denton, TX versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,323 in Denton, TX versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,396 in Denton, TX versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Denton, TX costs roughly 15% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Denton, TX 68% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.12 $15.12

$19.63 $19.63

-22.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.5 $63.5

$75.1 $75.1

-15.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 $8.81

$9.92 $9.92

-11.19%

Cappuccino

$4.77 $4.77

$5.67 $5.67

-15.87%

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

$1.94 $1.94

$2.77 $2.77

-29.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.17 $2.17

-19.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.65 $5.65

$5.84 $5.84

-3.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 $5.87

$7.77 $7.77

-24.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.09 $1.09

-19.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 $2.85

$3.41 $3.41

-16.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.43 $3.43

15.74%

Eggs

$3.77 $3.77

$4.39 $4.39

-14.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.64 $11.64

$11.95 $11.95

-2.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.35 $10.35

$10.76 $10.76

-3.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.47 $11.47

$14.29 $14.29

-19.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$4.84 $4.84

-3.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.55 $1.55

-8.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.46 $4.46

-2.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$3.91 $3.91

16.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.74 $2.74

9.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.74 $2.74

-18.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.04 $2.04

-18.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.25 $2.25

0.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.00 $11.00

$8.93 $8.93

23.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.08 $10.08

$14.85 $14.85

-32.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.35 $2.35

-26.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$3.57 $3.57

-34.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.47 $1.47

38.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.87 $47.87

$42.98 $42.98

11.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 $2.34

$4.28 $4.28

-45.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.84 $1.84

-30.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$35.54 $35.54

-16.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.72 $0.72

11.11%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$25.7K $25.7K

-4.18%

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-9.69%

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

$229 $229

$174 $174

32.11%

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

$71.8 $71.8

$60.2 $60.2

19.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.5 $80.5

$66.3 $66.3

21.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.88 $26.88

$62.8 $62.8

-57.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$9.88 $9.88

$15.24 $15.24

-35.17%

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

$1,581 $1,581

$1,387 $1,387

14.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$22.2K $22.2K

7.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.40 $44.40

$56.7 $56.7

-21.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.03 $39.03

$45.34 $45.34

-13.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.6 $57.6

$86.5 $86.5

-33.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 $74.0

$119 $119

-37.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 $1,427

$2,247 $2,247

-36.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,034 $1,034

$1,430 $1,430

-27.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,854 $2,854

$3,778 $3,778

-24.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,883 $1,883

$2,641 $2,641

-28.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,091 $5,091

$7,044 $7,044

-27.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,916 $3,916

$3,162 $3,162

23.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,818 $3,818

$5,108 $5,108

-25.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

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

Last update for Denton, TX: June 2, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,427 in Denton, TX and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 34% 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: $64.0 in Denton, TX vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $342 vs $377 per month, with Denton, TX 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

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

Denton, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Denton, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Austin, TX earns 34% 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: $1,427 in Denton, TX versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,250 per month in Denton, TX versus $2,659 in Austin, TX – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Denton, TX runs roughly 11% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,250 in Denton, TX versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Denton, TX but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Denton, TX 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 Denton, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.