😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,673 in Islip, NY versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,070 in Islip, NY versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,466 in Islip, NY versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.
😐Living in Islip, NY is roughly 1% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Islip, NY99% above, Austin, TX98% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islip, NY
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.44$25.44
$19.63$19.63
29.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$111$111
$75.1$75.1
48.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.51$12.51
$9.92$9.92
26.11%
Cappuccino
$4.73$4.73
$5.67$5.67
-16.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74$2.74
$2.77$2.77
-1.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72$1.72
$2.17$2.17
-20.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.35$7.35
$5.84$5.84
25.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.97$7.97
$7.77$7.77
2.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islip, NY
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21$1.21
$1.09$1.09
11.01%
White Bread(500g)
$4.79$4.79
$3.41$3.41
40.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.88$4.88
$3.43$3.43
42.27%
Eggs
$5.28$5.28
$4.39$4.39
20.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.49$17.49
$11.95$11.95
46.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.21$16.21
$10.76$10.76
50.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.73$15.73
$14.29$14.29
10.08%
Apples(1kg)
$6.59$6.59
$4.84$4.84
36.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.40$2.40
$1.55$1.55
54.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22$2.22
$4.46$4.46
-50.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.41$6.41
$3.91$3.91
63.94%
Potato(1kg)
$2.73$2.73
$2.74$2.74
-0.36%
Onion(1kg)
$4.05$4.05
$2.74$2.74
47.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.56$1.56
$2.04$2.04
-23.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26$2.26
$2.25$2.25
0.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.93$14.93
$8.93$8.93
67.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.78$12.78
$14.85$14.85
-13.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27$2.27
$2.35$2.35
-3.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87$3.87
$3.57$3.57
8.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Islip, NY
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.94$1.94
$1.47$1.47
31.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$42.98$42.98
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.91$3.91
$4.28$4.28
-8.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07$2.07
$1.84$1.84
12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.15$42.15
$35.54$35.54
18.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92$0.92
$0.72$0.72
27.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0K$24.0K
$25.7K$25.7K
-6.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K$27.6K
$26.2K$26.2K
5.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islip, NY
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$182$182
$174$174
4.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.7$58.7
$60.2$60.2
-2.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.3$63.3
$66.3$66.3
-4.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islip, NY
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.36$42.36
$62.8$62.8
-32.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$9.83$9.83
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.05$16.05
$15.24$15.24
5.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islip, NY
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,213$3,213
$1,387$1,387
131.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.7K$23.7K
$22.2K$22.2K
7.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islip, NY
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.14$45.14
$56.7$56.7
-20.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.94$27.94
$45.34$45.34
-38.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.9$90.9
$86.5$86.5
5.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133$133
$119$119
12.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islip, NY
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,960$1,960
$2,247$2,247
-12.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,338$1,338
$1,430$1,430
-6.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,628$2,628
$3,778$3,778
-30.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,234$2,234
$2,641$2,641
-15.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,044$7,044
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,162$3,162
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islip, NY
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,921$3,921
$5,108$5,108
-23.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.44
6.45
-0.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Islip, NY: June 1, 2026
Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,960 in Islip, NY and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Austin, TX pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $111 in Islip, NY vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 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
Islip, NY vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Islip, NY or Austin, TX?
Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Islip, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Islip, NY or Austin, TX?
On paper, Austin, TX earns 30% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Islip, NY vs Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,960 in Islip, NY versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Islip, NY and Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $3,213 in Islip, NY versus $1,387 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 Islip, NY vs Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $111 in Islip, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Islip, NY or Austin, TX?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Islip, NY 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Islip, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.