Cost of Living Comparison Between Elgin, IL and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Elgin, IL and Austin, TX

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Elgin, IL is 26.4% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 12.6% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Elgin, IL is 20.5% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 14.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Elgin, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.15 $15.15
$19.64 $19.64
-22.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.5 $59.5
$76.2 $76.2
-22.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.04 $10.04
$9.95 $9.95
0.90%
Cappuccino
$4.04 $4.04
$5.61 $5.61
-27.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.64 $2.64
-0.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.19 $2.19
-10.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.12 $6.12
$5.84 $5.84
4.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.89 $4.89
$7.92 $7.92
-38.26%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Elgin, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 $0.74
$1.13 $1.13
-34.51%
White Bread (500g)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.3 $3.3
11.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.37 $5.37
$3.5 $3.5
53.43%
Eggs
$3.95 $3.95
$4.4 $4.4
-10.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.06 $11.06
$12 $12
-7.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.21 $13.21
$10.68 $10.68
23.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.81 $10.81
$14.73 $14.73
-26.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 $2.24
$4.88 $4.88
-54.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.52 $1.52
-28.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$4.53 $4.53
-64.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$3.92 $3.92
-30.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.72 $2.72
-2.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.76 $2.76
5.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.01 $2.01
-2.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.18 $2.18
-5.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.12 $10.12
$8.86 $8.86
14.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.78 $11.78
$14.96 $14.96
-21.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.34 $2.34
-2.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 $4.75
$3.44 $3.44
38.08%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Elgin, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.48 $1.48
37.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$42.82 $42.82
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.3 $4.3
1.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.82 $1.82
21.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.82 $27.82
$34.63 $34.63
-19.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$0.73 $0.73
13.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K $24.6K
$25.5K $25.5K
-3.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$26.3K $26.3K
-3.07%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elgin, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.6 $98.6
$177 $177
-44.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.7 $51.7
$58.9 $58.9
-12.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.1 $50.1
$64.8 $64.8
-22.79%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Elgin, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.98 $42.98
$62.6 $62.6
-31.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.17 $10.17
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$14.72 $14.72
2.79%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Elgin, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,654 $1,654
$1,378 $1,378
19.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.5K $24.5K
$22.4K $22.4K
9.46%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Elgin, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.7 $40.7
$56.3 $56.3
-27.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.51 $47.51
$46.46 $46.46
2.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$86.7 $86.7
16.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 $131
$119 $119
10.03%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Elgin, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 $1,594
$2,188 $2,188
-27.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,372 $1,372
$1,395 $1,395
-1.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,657 $2,657
$3,896 $3,896
-31.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,267 $2,267
$2,689 $2,689
-15.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,725 $2,725
$4,414 $4,414
-38.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,428 $2,428
$3,161 $3,161
-23.20%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Elgin, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,871 $4,871
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.45
1.55%

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

Last update for Elgin, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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