Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Johnstown, PA and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Johnstown, PA: $1,657 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Johnstown, PA
🇺🇸 United States
$1,657
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,698
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,657 in Johnstown, PA versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

  • Johnstown, PA $1,657
  • Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,417 in Johnstown, PA versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

  • Johnstown, PA $2,417
  • Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,177 in Johnstown, PA versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

  • Johnstown, PA $3,177
  • Austin, TX $5,622

Living in Johnstown, PA costs roughly 39% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Johnstown, PA 22% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Johnstown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.58 $13.58
$20.63 $20.63
-34.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.60 $39.60
$84.6 $84.6
-53.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.19 $7.19
$12.07 $12.07
-40.43%
Cappuccino
$6.34 $6.34
$5.48 $5.48
15.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.80 $3.80
-28.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$2.47 $2.47
5.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.93 $3.93
$8.05 $8.05
-51.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 $5.88
$8.88 $8.88
-33.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Johnstown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.11 $1.11
10.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.39 $1.39
$3.72 $3.72
-62.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.50 $7.50
$3.37 $3.37
122.55%
Eggs
$5.32 $5.32
$4.32 $4.32
23.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.56 $16.56
$13.13 $13.13
26.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$14.15 $14.15
-67.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.84 $18.84
$16.33 $16.33
15.37%
Apples (1kg)
$4.91 $4.91
$4.55 $4.55
7.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 $1.32
$1.46 $1.46
-9.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.42 $6.42
$4.71 $4.71
36.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$4.15 $4.15
-32.05%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 $0.96
$2.58 $2.58
-62.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.35 $2.35
-14.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.77 $1.77
20.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.14 $2.14
26.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97 $9.97
$10.10 $10.10
-1.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.03 $15.03
$15.19 $15.19
-1.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.82 $2.82
-39.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.98 $4.98
$3.44 $3.44
44.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Johnstown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.54 $1.54
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.99 $40.99
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.80 $2.80
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.60 $1.60
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$34.34 $34.34
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$0.94 $0.94
2.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$34.0K $34.0K
-17.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$26.8K $26.8K
1.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johnstown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$147 $147
$223 $223
-33.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.88 $14.88
$58.9 $58.9
-74.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.5 $69.5
$70.6 $70.6
-1.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Johnstown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.40 $36.40
$57.7 $57.7
-36.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.53 $16.53
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.26 $9.26
$14.26 $14.26
-35.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Johnstown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,258 $2,258
$1,511 $1,511
49.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$60.2K $60.2K
$20.9K $20.9K
188.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Johnstown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.37 $47.37
$51.3 $51.3
-7.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.50 $36.50
$44.17 $44.17
-17.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 $108
$87.0 $87.0
24.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 $122
$104 $104
16.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Johnstown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$643 $643
$1,940 $1,940
-66.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$594 $594
$1,316 $1,316
-54.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$900 $900
$3,664 $3,664
-75.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$935 $935
$2,565 $2,565
-63.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$829 $829
$7,354 $7,354
-88.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$836 $836
$3,129 $3,129
-73.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Johnstown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,182 $2,182
$5,286 $5,286
-58.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.72
6.79
-1.03%

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

Last update for Johnstown, PA: 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
Johnstown, PA
$594
Austin, TX
$1.3K 122% $722
Groceries & Markets
Johnstown, PA
$376
Austin, TX
$406 8.1% $30
Eating Out
Johnstown, PA
$259
Austin, TX
$350 35.2% $91
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johnstown, PA
$232
Austin, TX
$352 52% $120
Clothing & Footwear
Johnstown, PA
$141
Austin, TX
$129 8.6% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Johnstown, PA
$55
Austin, TX
$86 57% $31
Getting Around
Johnstown, PA
- *
Austin, TX
$58

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 $643 in Johnstown, PA and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 142% 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: $40.00 in Johnstown, PA vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $406 per month, with Johnstown, PA cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Johnstown, PA
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
16:35 4:35 PM
15:35 3:35 PM
1 h behind Johnstown, PA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
22,269
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Johnstown, PA Austin, TX 2,030 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Johnstown, PA
  • 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
Johnstown, PA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Johnstown, PA or Austin, TX?
Johnstown, PA wins on cost – living expenses run 63% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Johnstown, PA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Johnstown, PA or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 142% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Johnstown, PA compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $643 in Johnstown, PA 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 Johnstown, PA and in Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $2,258 in Johnstown, PA 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 Johnstown, PA and in Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Johnstown, PA – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Johnstown, PA or in Austin, TX?
At $1,657 in Johnstown, PA versus $2,698 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Johnstown, PA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Johnstown, PA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Johnstown, PA 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.
How safe is Johnstown, PA compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Johnstown, PA 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Johnstown, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Johnstown, PA vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?