Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Highlands Ranch, CO and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,698 a month against $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Highlands Ranch, CO outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

161

Cost of Living Index in Highlands Ranch, CO
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Highlands Ranch, CO Living Index
129

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

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Highlands Ranch, CO

🇺🇸 United States

$3,365

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,698

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

Highlands Ranch, CO $3,365
Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,987 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

Highlands Ranch, CO $2,987
Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,609 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

Highlands Ranch, CO $2,609
Austin, TX $5,622

Living in Highlands Ranch, CO is roughly 25% more expensive than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Highlands Ranch, CO 148% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.27 $15.27

$20.63 $20.63

-25.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.5 $79.5

$84.6 $84.6

-5.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.20 $10.20

$12.07 $12.07

-15.49%

Cappuccino

$6.26 $6.26

$5.48 $5.48

14.23%

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

$2.48 $2.48

$3.80 $3.80

-34.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.47 $2.47

-13.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.06 $5.06

$8.05 $8.05

-37.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.15 $6.15

$8.88 $8.88

-30.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.11 $1.11

-6.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 $2.89

$3.72 $3.72

-22.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.37 $3.37

-16.91%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$4.32 $4.32

-0.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$13.13 $13.13

-17.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.20 $7.20

$14.15 $14.15

-49.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.01 $19.01

$16.33 $16.33

16.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.55 $4.55

-11.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.46 $1.46

2.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.71 $4.71

3.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$4.15 $4.15

26.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$2.58 $2.58

39.92%

Onion (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$2.35 $2.35

94.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.77 $1.77

25.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.14 $2.14

-20.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.41 $10.41

$10.10 $10.10

3.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.19 $15.19

8.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.82 $2.82

-11.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.44 $3.44

-24.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.99 $40.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.80 $2.80

-11.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.60 $1.60

18.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.39 $25.39

$34.34 $34.34

-26.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.94 $0.94

8.51%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$34.0K $34.0K

-17.59%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.8K $26.8K

-3.06%

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

$215 $215

$223 $223

-3.53%

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

$56.8 $56.8

$58.9 $58.9

-3.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.8 $68.8

$70.6 $70.6

-2.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 $57.7

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.53 $16.53

Cinema Ticket

$11.99 $11.99

$14.26 $14.26

-15.92%

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

$1,306 $1,306

$1,511 $1,511

-13.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K $12.3K

$20.9K $20.9K

-41.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 $60.1

$51.3 $51.3

17.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.4 $68.4

$44.17 $44.17

54.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 $78.5

$87.0 $87.0

-9.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$104 $104

13.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,864 $2,864

$1,940 $1,940

47.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,190 $2,190

$1,316 $1,316

66.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,565 $2,565

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,354 $7,354

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,129 $3,129

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,275 $7,275

$5,286 $5,286

37.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.7

6.79

-1.33%

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

Last update for Highlands Ranch, CO: October 19, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Highlands Ranch, CO

$2.2K 65.1%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.8% 39.9% $874

Groceries & Markets

Highlands Ranch, CO

$368 10.9%

Austin, TX

$406 15.1% 10.3% $38

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Highlands Ranch, CO

$340 10.1%

Austin, TX

$352 13.1% 3.5% $12

Eating Out

Highlands Ranch, CO

$284 8.4%

Austin, TX

$350 13% 23.3% $66

Clothing & Footwear

Highlands Ranch, CO

$146 4.4%

Austin, TX

$129 4.8% 11.8% $17

Sport & Entertainment

Highlands Ranch, CO

$24 * 0.7%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 260% $62

Getting Around

Highlands Ranch, CO

$12 * 0.4%

Austin, TX

$58 2.2% 385% $46

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 $2,864 in Highlands Ranch, CO and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Highlands Ranch, CO pays 38% 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: $80.0 in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $368 vs $406 per month, with Highlands Ranch, CO cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Highlands Ranch, CO

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

17:49 5:49 PM

18:49 6:49 PM

1 h ahead of Highlands Ranch, CO

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Highlands Ranch, CO Austin, TX 1,220 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

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Highlands Ranch, CO
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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

Highlands Ranch, CO vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Highlands Ranch, CO. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 38% higher in Highlands Ranch, CO, 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: $2,864 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,306 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $1,511 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $80.0 in Highlands Ranch, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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, Highlands Ranch, CO 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Highlands Ranch, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.