Cost of Living Comparison Between East Lansing, MI and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between East Lansing, MI and Austin, TX

🙂 Solo nomad: East Lansing, MI is 26.3% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 18.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: East Lansing, MI is 16.8% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 25.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
East Lansing, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.24 $13.24
$19.64 $19.64
-32.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4 $64.4
$76.2 $76.2
-15.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.01 $10.01
$9.95 $9.95
0.60%
Cappuccino
$4.37 $4.37
$5.61 $5.61
-22.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.64 $2.64
-11.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 $1.35
$2.19 $2.19
-38.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.98 $4.98
$5.84 $5.84
-14.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01 $5.01
$7.92 $7.92
-36.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
East Lansing, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 $0.75
$1.13 $1.13
-33.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.3 $3.3
-11.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.18 $4.18
$3.5 $3.5
19.43%
Eggs
$2.57 $2.57
$4.4 $4.4
-41.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.29 $12.29
$12 $12
2.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.47 $11.47
$10.68 $10.68
7.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 $15.52
$14.73 $14.73
5.36%
Apples (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$4.88 $4.88
-20.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.52 $1.52
17.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$4.53 $4.53
-28.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$3.92 $3.92
-7.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.72 $2.72
-13.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.76 $2.76
-26.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.01 $2.01
9.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.18 $2.18
1.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.98 $9.98
$8.86 $8.86
12.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.72 $15.72
$14.96 $14.96
5.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.34 $2.34
-26.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 $1.47
$3.44 $3.44
-57.27%
🚌 Getting Around
East Lansing, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.48 $1.48
12.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.1 $50.1
$42.82 $42.82
17.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.3 $4.3
-41.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.82 $1.82
-25.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.37 $39.37
$34.63 $34.63
13.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$0.73 $0.73
19.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$25.5K $25.5K
16.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.3K $26.3K
-2.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
East Lansing, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 $178
$177 $177
0.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.54 $48.54
$58.9 $58.9
-17.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.2 $64.2
$64.8 $64.8
-1.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
East Lansing, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.58 $36.58
$62.6 $62.6
-41.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.04 $15.04
$10.17 $10.17
47.89%
Cinema Ticket
$11.18 $11.18
$14.72 $14.72
-24.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
East Lansing, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,482 $1,482
$1,378 $1,378
7.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K $14.4K
$22.4K $22.4K
-35.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
East Lansing, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.62 $43.62
$56.3 $56.3
-22.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.78 $36.78
$46.46 $46.46
-20.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.4 $70.4
$86.7 $86.7
-18.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.8 $65.8
$119 $119
-44.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
East Lansing, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,244 $1,244
$2,188 $2,188
-43.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,049 $1,049
$1,395 $1,395
-24.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 $2,012
$3,896 $3,896
-48.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,626 $1,626
$2,689 $2,689
-39.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,010 $2,010
$4,414 $4,414
-54.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,569 $1,569
$3,161 $3,161
-50.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
East Lansing, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,083 $6,083
$4,871 $4,871
24.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.45
0.93%

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

Last update for East Lansing, MI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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