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: $2,501 in Evanston, IL versus $2,706 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,379 in Evanston, IL versus $4,169 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,257 in Evanston, IL versus $5,633 in Austin, TX.

Living in Evanston, IL costs roughly 8% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Evanston, IL 87% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$19.70 $19.70

2.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.0 $79.0

$76.0 $76.0

3.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$9.86 $9.86

21.50%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$5.48 $5.48

-1.28%

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

$2.65 $2.65

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.09 $2.09

8.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$6.09 $6.09

18.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.90 $6.90

$8.15 $8.15

-15.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.10 $1.10

-1.82%

White Bread (500g)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.39 $3.39

10.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.38 $3.38

59.17%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$4.39 $4.39

2.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.70 $13.70

$12.10 $12.10

13.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.39 $13.39

$10.84 $10.84

23.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.03 $19.03

$14.68 $14.68

29.63%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$4.96 $4.96

-10.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.51 $1.51

12.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.40 $4.40

-0.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$4.10 $4.10

9.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.81 $2.81

-12.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$2.87 $2.87

1.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.95 $1.95

3.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.18 $2.18

-7.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.83 $9.83

$8.99 $8.99

9.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$15.11 $15.11

0.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.33 $2.33

1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.43 $3.43

8.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.54 $1.54

77.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$44.15 $44.15

70.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 $4.47

$4.41 $4.41

1.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.83 $1.83

-25.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.68 $41.68

$34.65 $34.65

20.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.78 $0.78

15.38%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

14.13%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

-0.81%

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

$184 $184

$175 $175

5.27%

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

$63.6 $63.6

$59.7 $59.7

6.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$65.5 $65.5

16.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 $75.1

$61.3 $61.3

22.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$60.1 $60.1

$9.89 $9.89

507.68%

Cinema Ticket

$14.94 $14.94

$14.76 $14.76

1.22%

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

$1,598 $1,598

$1,372 $1,372

16.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.5K $34.5K

$22.2K $22.2K

55.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.1 $65.1

$56.5 $56.5

15.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.92 $48.92

$45.29 $45.29

8.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$85.0 $85.0

19.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$118 $118

14.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 $1,683

$2,201 $2,201

-23.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,121 $1,121

$1,403 $1,403

-20.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,016 $4,016

$3,815 $3,815

5.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,056 $3,056

$2,680 $2,680

14.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.6K $14.6K

$7,133 $7,133

105.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$13.1K $13.1K

$3,078 $3,078

325.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,271 $5,271

$5,110 $5,110

3.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.45

2.33%

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

Last update for Evanston, IL: July 13, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,683 in Evanston, IL and $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Evanston, IL pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $79.0 in Evanston, IL vs $76.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $420 vs $379 per month, with Austin, TX 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

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

Evanston, IL and Austin, TX differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,501 vs $2,706 including rent). Evanston, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 3% 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: $1,683 in Evanston, IL versus $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,501 per month in Evanston, IL versus $2,706 in Austin, TX – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Evanston, IL runs roughly 71% 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 8% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.