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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,168 in East Lansing, MI versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,119 in East Lansing, MI versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,071 in East Lansing, MI versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in East Lansing, MI costs roughly 18% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: East Lansing, MI 62% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.03 $13.03

$19.63 $19.63

-33.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.7 $65.7

$75.1 $75.1

-12.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 $9.83

$9.92 $9.92

-0.91%

Cappuccino

$4.53 $4.53

$5.67 $5.67

-20.11%

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

$2.29 $2.29

$2.77 $2.77

-17.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 $1.33

$2.17 $2.17

-38.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.05 $5.05

$5.84 $5.84

-13.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.05 $5.05

$7.77 $7.77

-35.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.09 $1.09

-31.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.41 $3.41

-16.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.43 $3.43

20.99%

Eggs

$2.44 $2.44

$4.39 $4.39

-44.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.51 $12.51

$11.95 $11.95

4.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.55 $11.55

$10.76 $10.76

7.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.95 $14.95

$14.29 $14.29

4.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$4.84 $4.84

-19.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.55 $1.55

15.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$4.46 $4.46

-23.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.91 $3.91

-4.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.74 $2.74

-14.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.74 $2.74

-28.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.04 $2.04

12.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.25 $2.25

-4.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.09 $10.09

$8.93 $8.93

12.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.85 $14.85

5.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.35 $2.35

-27.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$3.57 $3.57

-56.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.47 $1.47

8.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.43 $49.43

$42.98 $42.98

15.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$4.28 $4.28

-42.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.84 $1.84

-26.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.37 $40.37

$35.54 $35.54

13.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.72 $0.72

13.89%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$25.7K $25.7K

13.78%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.63%

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

$176 $176

$174 $174

1.53%

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

$50.5 $50.5

$60.2 $60.2

-16.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.6 $62.6

$66.3 $66.3

-5.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.94 $35.94

$62.8 $62.8

-42.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.87 $14.87

$9.83 $9.83

51.27%

Cinema Ticket

$11.14 $11.14

$15.24 $15.24

-26.90%

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

$1,477 $1,477

$1,387 $1,387

6.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K $14.1K

$22.2K $22.2K

-36.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.73 $43.73

$56.7 $56.7

-22.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.27 $37.27

$45.34 $45.34

-17.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 $68.8

$86.5 $86.5

-20.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.6 $65.6

$119 $119

-44.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,242 $1,242

$2,247 $2,247

-44.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,055 $1,055

$1,430 $1,430

-26.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,055 $2,055

$3,778 $3,778

-45.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,649 $1,649

$2,641 $2,641

-37.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,027 $2,027

$7,044 $7,044

-71.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,588 $1,588

$3,162 $3,162

-49.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,999 $5,999

$5,108 $5,108

17.44%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,242 in East Lansing, MI and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

East Lansing, MI pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $66.0 in East Lansing, MI vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $377 per month, with East Lansing, MI 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

East Lansing, MI vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

East Lansing, MI wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making East Lansing, MI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

East Lansing, MI pays 17% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,242 in East Lansing, MI 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 $2,168 per month in East Lansing, MI versus $2,659 in Austin, TX – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in East Lansing, MI runs roughly 15% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,168 in East Lansing, MI versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in East Lansing, MI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes East Lansing, MI 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, East Lansing, MI 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 East Lansing, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.