Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubuque, IA and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Dubuque, IA: $1,731 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $11,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

84

Cost of Living Index in Dubuque, IA
Learn more

Dubuque, IA Living Index
129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
Learn more

Austin, TX Living Index

Jump to prices

Dubuque, IA

🇺🇸 United States

$1,731

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,698

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dubuque, IA 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 Dubuque, IA and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,731 in Dubuque, IA versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

Dubuque, IA $1,731
Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,538 in Dubuque, IA versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

Dubuque, IA $2,538
Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,345 in Dubuque, IA versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

Dubuque, IA $3,345
Austin, TX $5,622

Living in Dubuque, IA costs roughly 36% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dubuque, IA 28% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.85 $13.85

$20.63 $20.63

-32.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.71 $49.71

$84.6 $84.6

-41.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.80 $11.80

$12.07 $12.07

-2.24%

Cappuccino

$4.99 $4.99

$5.48 $5.48

-8.94%

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

$2.02 $2.02

$3.80 $3.80

-46.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 $0.95

$2.47 $2.47

-61.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 $3.01

$8.05 $8.05

-62.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 $4.53

$8.88 $8.88

-48.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.11 $1.11

-29.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.72 $3.72

-27.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.37 $3.37

-16.32%

Eggs

$2.85 $2.85

$4.32 $4.32

-34.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.05 $14.05

$13.13 $13.13

7.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.38 $10.38

$14.15 $14.15

-26.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.63 $10.63

$16.33 $16.33

-34.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.55 $4.55

-27.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.46 $1.46

-17.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$4.71 $4.71

-30.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$4.15 $4.15

-40.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.58 $2.58

-47.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.35 $2.35

-28.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.77 $1.77

36.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.14 $2.14

-16.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.70 $8.70

$10.10 $10.10

-13.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.36 $13.36

$15.19 $15.19

-12.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.82 $2.82

-40.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.44 $3.44

-18.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.99 $40.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 $2.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.34 $34.34

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.94 $0.94

-3.19%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$34.0K $34.0K

-27.81%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$26.8K $26.8K

-6.48%

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

$176 $176

$223 $223

-20.84%

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

$52.0 $52.0

$58.9 $58.9

-11.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.7 $50.7

$70.6 $70.6

-28.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.87 $36.87

$57.7 $57.7

-36.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.53 $16.53

Cinema Ticket

$8.17 $8.17

$14.26 $14.26

-42.71%

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

$812 $812

$1,511 $1,511

-46.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 $55.6

$51.3 $51.3

8.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.65 $35.65

$44.17 $44.17

-19.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 $86.1

$87.0 $87.0

-0.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.7 $88.7

$104 $104

-15.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 $985

$1,940 $1,940

-49.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$725 $725

$1,316 $1,316

-44.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,476 $1,476

$3,664 $3,664

-59.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,201 $1,201

$2,565 $2,565

-53.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,732 $1,732

$7,354 $7,354

-76.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,707 $1,707

$3,129 $3,129

-45.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,768 $3,768

$5,286 $5,286

-28.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

6.79

-22.68%

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

Last update for Dubuque, IA: 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

Dubuque, IA

$725 41.9%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.8% 81.6% $592

Groceries & Markets

Dubuque, IA

$312 18%

Austin, TX

$406 15.1% 30.1% $94

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Dubuque, IA

$279 16.1%

Austin, TX

$352 13.1% 26.2% $73

Eating Out

Dubuque, IA

$242 14%

Austin, TX

$350 13% 44.6% $108

Clothing & Footwear

Dubuque, IA

$120 6.9%

Austin, TX

$129 4.8% 7.8% $9.3

Sport & Entertainment

Dubuque, IA

$53 3.1%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 62% $33

Getting Around

Dubuque, IA

- * 0%

Austin, TX

$58 2.2%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $985 in Dubuque, IA and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 40% 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: $50.0 in Dubuque, IA vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $406 per month, with Dubuque, IA cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Dubuque, IA

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

20:50 8:50 PM

Same time as Dubuque, IA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

59,667

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Dubuque, IA Austin, TX 1,500 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Dubuque, IA
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

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

Dubuque, IA wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dubuque, IA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 40% 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: $985 in Dubuque, IA versus $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $812 in Dubuque, IA versus $1,511 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 Dubuque, IA – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,731 in Dubuque, IA versus $2,698 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dubuque, IA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Dubuque, IA 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.

Safety-wise, Dubuque, IA 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.

Expats usually find Dubuque, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.