Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Elkhart, IN and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Elkhart, IN: $1,867 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

91

Cost of Living Index in Elkhart, IN
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Elkhart, IN Living Index
130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Elkhart, IN

🇺🇸 United States

$1,867

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,867 in Elkhart, IN versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Elkhart, IN $1,867
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,726 in Elkhart, IN versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Elkhart, IN $2,726
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,585 in Elkhart, IN versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Elkhart, IN $3,585
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Elkhart, IN costs roughly 30% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Elkhart, IN 38% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.18 $10.18

$20.77 $20.77

-50.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.96 $39.96

$84.6 $84.6

-52.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 $9.90

$12.32 $12.32

-19.64%

Cappuccino

$1.73 $1.73

$5.63 $5.63

-69.27%

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

$2.76 $2.76

$3.72 $3.72

-25.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.50 $2.50

-37.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 $3.72

$8.05 $8.05

-53.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.35 $5.35

$9.01 $9.01

-40.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.12 $1.12

-24.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 $1.24

$3.75 $3.75

-66.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$3.26 $3.26

-41.10%

Eggs

$2.87 $2.87

$4.17 $4.17

-31.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$12.90 $12.90

-63.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.30 $16.30

$14.16 $14.16

15.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.54 $15.54

$16.22 $16.22

-4.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.33 $4.33

-19.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.46 $1.46

0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$4.51 $4.51

-67.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$4.34 $4.34

-68.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 $0.43

$2.58 $2.58

-83.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.35 $2.35

-3.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.78 $1.78

-17.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.22 $2.22

33.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.36 $8.36

$9.88 $9.88

-15.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 $12.23

$15.08 $15.08

-18.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.92 $2.92

-21.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.92 $4.92

$3.46 $3.46

42.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.15 $25.15

$41.72 $41.72

-39.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.93 $9.93

$2.73 $2.73

263.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.66 $1.66

83.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.98 $9.98

$35.30 $35.30

-71.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.95 $0.95

-9.47%

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

$34.6K $34.6K

$36.0K $36.0K

-4.08%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.1K $27.1K

-5.03%

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

$232 $232

$229 $229

1.48%

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

$65.5 $65.5

$59.4 $59.4

10.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.2 $52.2

$69.9 $69.9

-25.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.16 $15.16

$57.2 $57.2

-73.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.04 $5.04

$16.33 $16.33

-69.14%

Cinema Ticket

$11.16 $11.16

$14.28 $14.28

-21.85%

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

$645 $645

$1,506 $1,506

-57.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.84 $34.84

$52.8 $52.8

-34.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.27 $15.27

$43.82 $43.82

-65.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.4 $68.4

$84.8 $84.8

-19.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.5 $80.5

$103 $103

-21.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,004 $1,004

$1,907 $1,907

-47.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$847 $847

$1,274 $1,274

-33.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,505 $1,505

$3,664 $3,664

-58.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,526 $1,526

$2,538 $2,538

-39.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,925 $6,925

$7,614 $7,614

-9.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,330 $4,330

$3,157 $3,157

37.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,426 $3,426

$5,121 $5,121

-33.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.79

-5.89%

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

Last update for Elkhart, IN: October 12, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Elkhart, IN

$847 45.4%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 50.4% $427

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Elkhart, IN

$350 18.8%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 2.3% $8.2

Groceries & Markets

Elkhart, IN

$314 16.8%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 28.8% $91

Eating Out

Elkhart, IN

$178 9.6%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 98.3% $175

Clothing & Footwear

Elkhart, IN

$90 4.8%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 42.9% $38

Getting Around

Elkhart, IN

$50 * 2.7%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 16.7% $8.4

Sport & Entertainment

Elkhart, IN

$37 2%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 129% $48

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 $1,004 in Elkhart, IN and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 49% 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: $40.00 in Elkhart, IN vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $314 vs $405 per month, with Elkhart, IN cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Elkhart, IN

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

21:45 9:45 PM

20:45 8:45 PM

1 h behind Elkhart, IN

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

52,748

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Elkhart, IN Austin, TX 1,650 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Elkhart, IN
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

Elkhart, IN vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Elkhart, IN wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Elkhart, IN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 49% 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: $1,004 in Elkhart, IN versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,867 per month in Elkhart, IN versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Elkhart, IN runs roughly 66% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,867 in Elkhart, IN versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Elkhart, IN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Elkhart, IN 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.

Expats usually find Elkhart, IN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.