Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Scott, KS and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Fort Scott, KS: $2,480 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Fort Scott, KS
🇺🇸 United States
$2,480
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,698
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,480 in Fort Scott, KS versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

  • Fort Scott, KS $2,480
  • Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,004 in Fort Scott, KS versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

  • Fort Scott, KS $3,004
  • Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,527 in Fort Scott, KS versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

  • Fort Scott, KS $3,527
  • Austin, TX $5,622

Living in Fort Scott, KS costs roughly 8% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Scott, KS 83% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Scott, KS
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.44 $16.44
$20.63 $20.63
-20.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.7 $77.7
$84.6 $84.6
-8.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 $9.47
$12.07 $12.07
-21.54%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$5.48 $5.48
2.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$3.80 $3.80
-43.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 $1.63
$2.47 $2.47
-34.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.15 $6.15
$8.05 $8.05
-23.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.80 $6.80
$8.88 $8.88
-23.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Scott, KS
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.11 $1.11
-12.61%
White Bread (500g)
$4.02 $4.02
$3.72 $3.72
8.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.92 $5.92
$3.37 $3.37
75.67%
Eggs
$5.34 $5.34
$4.32 $4.32
23.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 $8.21
$13.13 $13.13
-37.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.73 $8.73
$14.15 $14.15
-38.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.60 $13.60
$16.33 $16.33
-16.72%
Apples (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$4.55 $4.55
0.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.46 $1.46
4.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 $2.70
$4.71 $4.71
-42.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$4.15 $4.15
11.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.58 $2.58
-25.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.35 $2.35
5.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.77 $1.77
-14.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.14 $2.14
-6.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.07 $9.07
$10.10 $10.10
-10.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.64 $18.64
$15.19 $15.19
22.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.82 $2.82
-10.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 $4.37
$3.44 $3.44
27.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Scott, KS
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.54 $1.54
19.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.99 $40.99
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.80 $2.80
10.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.60 $1.60
24.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.87 $31.87
$34.34 $34.34
-7.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$0.94 $0.94
6.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$34.0K $34.0K
-20.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$26.8K $26.8K
-2.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Scott, KS
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 $176
$223 $223
-20.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.6 $55.6
$58.9 $58.9
-5.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.2 $63.2
$70.6 $70.6
-10.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Scott, KS
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.63 $38.63
$57.7 $57.7
-33.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.53 $16.53
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.05 $10.05
$14.26 $14.26
-29.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Scott, KS
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,056 $1,056
$1,511 $1,511
-30.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.9K $25.9K
$20.9K $20.9K
23.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Scott, KS
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1 $59.1
$51.3 $51.3
15.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 $50.6
$44.17 $44.17
14.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$87.0 $87.0
27.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$104 $104
15.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Scott, KS
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,625 $1,625
$1,940 $1,940
-16.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,297 $1,297
$1,316 $1,316
-1.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,552 $2,552
$3,664 $3,664
-30.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$878 $878
$2,565 $2,565
-65.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,522 $2,522
$7,354 $7,354
-65.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,721 $2,721
$3,129 $3,129
-13.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Scott, KS
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,286 $5,286
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.77
6.79
-0.29%

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

Last update for Fort Scott, KS: October 20, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Fort Scott, KS
$1.3K
Austin, TX
$1.3K 1.5% $20
Groceries & Markets
Fort Scott, KS
$369
Austin, TX
$406 9.9% $37
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Scott, KS
$295
Austin, TX
$352 19.5% $57
Eating Out
Fort Scott, KS
$287
Austin, TX
$350 22% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Fort Scott, KS
$153
Austin, TX
$129 15.9% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Fort Scott, KS
$59
Austin, TX
$86 46.8% $28
Getting Around
Fort Scott, KS
$20 *
Austin, TX
$58 185% $38

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 $1,625 in Fort Scott, KS and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $78.0 in Fort Scott, KS vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $369 vs $406 per month, with Fort Scott, KS cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Fort Scott, KS
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
03:47 3:47 AM
03:47 3:47 AM
Same time as Fort Scott, KS
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
7,700
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Fort Scott, KS Austin, TX 890 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Fort Scott, KS
  • 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
Fort Scott, KS vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fort Scott, KS or Austin, TX?
Fort Scott, KS wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fort Scott, KS the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Fort Scott, KS and in Austin, TX?
You'd need roughly $3,721 in Fort Scott, KS and $4,046 in Austin, TX to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Fort Scott, KS compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,625 in Fort Scott, KS versus $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Fort Scott, KS and in Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $1,056 in Fort Scott, KS versus $1,511 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Fort Scott, KS and in Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Fort Scott, KS – a meal for two runs $78.0 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Fort Scott, KS or in Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Fort Scott, KS is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Fort Scott, KS or Austin, TX?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Fort Scott, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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