Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jackson, TN and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Jackson, TN: $2,194 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

106

Cost of Living Index in Jackson, TN
Learn more

Jackson, TN Living Index
130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
Learn more

Austin, TX Living Index

Jump to prices

Jackson, TN

🇺🇸 United States

$2,194

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,194 in Jackson, TN versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Jackson, TN $2,194
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,144 in Jackson, TN versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Jackson, TN $3,144
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,093 in Jackson, TN versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Jackson, TN $4,093
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Jackson, TN costs roughly 18% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jackson, TN 63% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.72 $16.72

$20.77 $20.77

-19.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.0 $51.0

$84.6 $84.6

-39.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.37 $10.37

$12.32 $12.32

-15.83%

Cappuccino

$4.96 $4.96

$5.63 $5.63

-11.90%

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

$2.37 $2.37

$3.72 $3.72

-36.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.50 $2.50

-26.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.92 $3.92

$8.05 $8.05

-51.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.03 $5.03

$9.01 $9.01

-44.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.12 $1.12

-20.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.75 $3.75

-21.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$3.26 $3.26

-19.33%

Eggs

$4.19 $4.19

$4.17 $4.17

0.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.54 $9.54

$12.90 $12.90

-26.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.59 $9.59

$14.16 $14.16

-32.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.93 $13.93

$16.22 $16.22

-14.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.33 $4.33

-13.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.46 $1.46

-6.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$4.51 $4.51

-38.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$4.34 $4.34

-29.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.58 $2.58

-29.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.35 $2.35

-2.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.78 $1.78

5.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.22 $2.22

-13.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.51 $8.51

$9.88 $9.88

-13.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.19 $13.19

$15.08 $15.08

-12.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.92 $2.92

-41.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.46 $3.46

-43.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.49 $1.49

-17.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.44 $34.44

$41.72 $41.72

-17.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.73 $2.73

-25.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.66 $1.66

-26.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.73 $19.73

$35.30 $35.30

-44.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.95 $0.95

-11.58%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$36.0K $36.0K

-2.86%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$27.1K $27.1K

-7.89%

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

$170 $170

$229 $229

-25.82%

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

$66.6 $66.6

$59.4 $59.4

12.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.7 $73.7

$69.9 $69.9

5.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.8 $50.8

$57.2 $57.2

-11.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49.76 $49.76

$16.33 $16.33

204.72%

Cinema Ticket

$11.13 $11.13

$14.28 $14.28

-22.06%

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

$1,123 $1,123

$1,506 $1,506

-25.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,334 $8,334

$21.5K $21.5K

-61.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 $52.4

$52.8 $52.8

-0.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.59 $35.59

$43.82 $43.82

-18.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.7 $64.7

$84.8 $84.8

-23.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$103 $103

-1.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 $1,207

$1,907 $1,907

-36.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,061 $1,061

$1,274 $1,274

-16.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,637 $1,637

$3,664 $3,664

-55.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,639 $1,639

$2,538 $2,538

-35.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,666 $1,666

$7,614 $7,614

-78.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,685 $1,685

$3,157 $3,157

-46.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,155 $4,155

$5,121 $5,121

-18.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.79

-3.83%

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

Last update for Jackson, TN: October 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Jackson, TN

$1.1K 48.4%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 20.1% $213

Groceries & Markets

Jackson, TN

$317 14.4%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 27.7% $88

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Jackson, TN

$310 14.1%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 15.5% $48

Eating Out

Jackson, TN

$271 12.4%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 30.6% $83

Clothing & Footwear

Jackson, TN

$115 5.2%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 11.8% $13

Sport & Entertainment

Jackson, TN

$73 3.3%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 17.5% $13

Getting Around

Jackson, TN

$48 2.2%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 23.6% $11

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,207 in Jackson, TN and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 23% 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: $51.0 in Jackson, TN vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $317 vs $405 per month, with Jackson, TN cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Jackson, TN

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

08:41 8:41 AM

Same time as Jackson, TN

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

153,701

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.889 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Jackson, TN Austin, TX 1,020 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Jackson, TN
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

Jackson, TN vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jackson, TN wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jackson, TN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 23% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,207 in Jackson, TN versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,194 per month in Jackson, TN versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Jackson, TN runs roughly 21% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,194 in Jackson, TN versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Jackson, TN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Jackson, TN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Jackson, TN 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 Jackson, TN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.