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: $2,524 in Evanston, IL versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,366 in Evanston, IL versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,208 in Evanston, IL versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Evanston, IL costs roughly 5% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Evanston, IL 88% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.36 $20.36

$19.63 $19.63

3.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.7 $78.7

$75.1 $75.1

4.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 $11.93

$9.92 $9.92

20.26%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$5.67 $5.67

-4.59%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$2.77 $2.77

-1.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.17 $2.17

5.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.13 $7.13

$5.84 $5.84

22.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$7.77 $7.77

-10.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.41 $3.41

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$3.43 $3.43

55.98%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.39 $4.39

7.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 $13.68

$11.95 $11.95

14.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.27 $13.27

$10.76 $10.76

23.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.14 $19.14

$14.29 $14.29

33.94%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$4.84 $4.84

-7.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.55 $1.55

9.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.46 $4.46

-3.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$3.91 $3.91

15.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.74 $2.74

-6.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.74 $2.74

4.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.04 $2.04

-4.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.25 $2.25

-12.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.12 $10.12

$8.93 $8.93

13.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.02 $15.02

$14.85 $14.85

1.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.35 $2.35

2.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.57 $3.57

0.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.47 $1.47

91.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.7 $73.7

$42.98 $42.98

71.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.28 $4.28

3.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.84 $1.84

-21.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.76 $42.76

$35.54 $35.54

20.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.72 $0.72

16.67%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$25.7K $25.7K

14.90%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.02%

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

$187 $187

$174 $174

7.47%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$60.2 $60.2

2.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$66.3 $66.3

14.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.3 $75.3

$62.8 $62.8

20.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$61.0 $61.0

$9.83 $9.83

520.35%

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$15.24 $15.24

-1.25%

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

$1,658 $1,658

$1,387 $1,387

19.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.6K $35.6K

$22.2K $22.2K

60.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 $63.0

$56.7 $56.7

11.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.80 $48.80

$45.34 $45.34

7.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 $99.9

$86.5 $86.5

15.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$119 $119

11.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,627 $1,627

$2,247 $2,247

-27.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,107 $1,107

$1,430 $1,430

-22.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,938 $3,938

$3,778 $3,778

4.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,942 $2,942

$2,641 $2,641

11.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.4K $14.4K

$7,044 $7,044

104.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.9K $12.9K

$3,162 $3,162

308.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,564 $5,564

$5,108 $5,108

8.92%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,627 in Evanston, IL and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Evanston, IL pays 9% 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 $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $420 vs $377 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 5% in total monthly costs ($2,524 vs $2,659 including rent). Evanston, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Evanston, IL pays 9% 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: $1,627 in Evanston, IL 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 $2,524 per month in Evanston, IL versus $2,659 in Austin, TX – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Evanston, IL runs roughly 72% 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 5% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.