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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,548 in Evanston, IL versus $2,695 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,455 in Evanston, IL versus $4,184 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,363 in Evanston, IL versus $5,674 in Austin, TX.

Living in Evanston, IL costs roughly 5% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Evanston, IL 85% above, Austin, TX 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.23 $20.23

$19.82 $19.82

2.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.1 $84.1

$83.9 $83.9

0.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.93 $12.93

$12.30 $12.30

5.12%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.48 $5.48

4.93%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$3.72 $3.72

-27.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.36 $2.36

-4.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$7.76 $7.76

-9.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.46 $7.46

$9.14 $9.14

-18.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.13 $1.13

-8.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.75 $3.75

5.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$3.43 $3.43

37.61%

Eggs

$4.92 $4.92

$4.35 $4.35

13.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 $14.71

$13.14 $13.14

11.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$14.39 $14.39

0.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.54 $19.54

$17.20 $17.20

13.60%

Apples (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.49 $4.49

19.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.44 $1.44

15.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$4.67 $4.67

-9.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.97 $4.97

-2.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.00 $3.00

-7.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.69 $2.69

3.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.85 $1.85

11.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.18 $2.18

11.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.54 $10.54

$9.45 $9.45

11.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.25 $15.25

$15.11 $15.11

0.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.89 $2.89

-8.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.49 $3.49

-0.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.64 $1.64

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.7 $74.7

$40.44 $40.44

84.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.81 $2.81

40.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.58 $1.58

-10.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.60 $43.60

$35.18 $35.18

23.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.90 $0.90

4.44%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.9K $35.9K

1.42%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$27.7K $27.7K

-7.50%

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

$191 $191

$222 $222

-14.16%

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

$62.1 $62.1

$58.3 $58.3

6.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.0 $74.0

$69.1 $69.1

7.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.5 $74.5

$66.2 $66.2

12.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$58.9 $58.9

$14.76 $14.76

298.85%

Cinema Ticket

$14.82 $14.82

$13.78 $13.78

7.55%

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

$1,560 $1,560

$1,526 $1,526

2.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$21.2K $21.2K

47.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 $63.2

$54.6 $54.6

15.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 $50.7

$44.01 $44.01

15.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 $105

$89.7 $89.7

17.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$109 $109

14.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 $1,677

$1,942 $1,942

-13.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,106 $1,106

$1,258 $1,258

-12.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,992 $3,992

$3,762 $3,762

6.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,021 $3,021

$2,592 $2,592

16.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.5K $14.5K

$7,403 $7,403

95.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.8K $12.8K

$3,203 $3,203

299.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,329 $5,329

$5,085 $5,085

4.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.44

-0.93%

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

Last update for Evanston, IL: September 1, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Evanston, IL and $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Evanston, IL pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Evanston, IL vs $84.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $443 vs $417, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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

Evanston, IL vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Evanston, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Evanston, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Evanston, IL, 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: $1,677 in Evanston, IL versus $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,548 per month in Evanston, IL versus $2,695 in Austin, TX – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Evanston, IL runs roughly 85% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Evanston, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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, Evanston, IL 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 Evanston, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.