Cost of Living Comparison Between Detroit, MI and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Detroit, MI and Austin, TX

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Detroit, MI is 2.5% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 8.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Detroit, MI is 3.1% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 11.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Detroit, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.26 $17.26
$19.64 $19.64
-12.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.9 $66.9
$76.2 $76.2
-12.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.07 $10.07
$9.95 $9.95
1.21%
Cappuccino
$4.82 $4.82
$5.61 $5.61
-14.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.64 $2.64
-6.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.19 $2.19
-13.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.07 $6.07
$5.84 $5.84
3.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.87 $6.87
$7.92 $7.92
-13.26%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Detroit, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.13 $1.13
-24.78%
White Bread (500g)
$3.15 $3.15
$3.3 $3.3
-4.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.85 $5.85
$3.5 $3.5
67.14%
Eggs
$3.41 $3.41
$4.4 $4.4
-22.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.32 $12.32
$12 $12
2.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.08 $12.08
$10.68 $10.68
13.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.73 $20.73
$14.73 $14.73
40.73%
Apples (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$4.88 $4.88
-6.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.52 $1.52
-19.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$4.53 $4.53
28.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.19 $6.19
$3.92 $3.92
57.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.72 $2.72
-26.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.5 $2.5
$2.76 $2.76
-9.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.01 $2.01
31.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.18 $2.18
-5.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.19 $10.19
$8.86 $8.86
15.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.75 $14.75
$14.96 $14.96
-1.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.34 $2.34
-14.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$3.44 $3.44
-25.00%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Detroit, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.48 $1.48
39.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.3 $65.3
$42.82 $42.82
52.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.48 $2.48
$4.3 $4.3
-42.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.82 $1.82
-24.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$47.26 $47.26
$34.63 $34.63
36.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$0.73 $0.73
23.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K $35.5K
$25.5K $25.5K
39.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$26.3K $26.3K
-5.98%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Detroit, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$250 $250
$177 $177
41.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.8 $54.8
$58.9 $58.9
-7.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.9 $53.9
$64.8 $64.8
-16.90%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Detroit, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.81 $42.81
$62.6 $62.6
-31.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.87 $24.87
$10.17 $10.17
144.54%
Cinema Ticket
$10.9 $10.9
$14.72 $14.72
-25.95%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Detroit, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,281 $1,281
$1,378 $1,378
-7.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.1K $17.1K
$22.4K $22.4K
-23.75%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Detroit, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 $55.3
$56.3 $56.3
-1.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.95 $30.95
$46.46 $46.46
-33.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.3 $98.3
$86.7 $86.7
13.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 $107
$119 $119
-9.79%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Detroit, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,441 $1,441
$2,188 $2,188
-34.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,139 $1,139
$1,395 $1,395
-18.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,561 $2,561
$3,896 $3,896
-34.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,964 $1,964
$2,689 $2,689
-26.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,371 $1,371
$4,414 $4,414
-68.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,257 $1,257
$3,161 $3,161
-60.22%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Detroit, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,172 $3,172
$4,871 $4,871
-34.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.45
-0.47%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Detroit, MI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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