Cost of Living Comparison Between Joplin, MO and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Joplin, MO and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,221 in Joplin, MO versus $2,706 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,969 in Joplin, MO versus $4,169 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,716 in Joplin, MO versus $5,633 in Austin, TX.

Living in Joplin, MO costs roughly 18% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Joplin, MO 66% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.18 $20.18

$19.70 $19.70

2.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.5 $54.5

$76.0 $76.0

-28.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.09 $10.09

$9.86 $9.86

2.33%

Cappuccino

$4.63 $4.63

$5.48 $5.48

-15.51%

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

$1.78 $1.78

$2.65 $2.65

-32.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.09 $2.09

-21.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.12 $5.12

$6.09 $6.09

-15.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 $6.04

$8.15 $8.15

-25.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.10 $1.10

-15.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.39 $3.39

-9.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$3.38 $3.38

-41.42%

Eggs

$3.94 $3.94

$4.39 $4.39

-10.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.78 $9.78

$12.10 $12.10

-19.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 $6.53

$10.84 $10.84

-39.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.21 $18.21

$14.68 $14.68

24.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.96 $4.96

-0.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.51 $1.51

9.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$4.40 $4.40

-35.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$4.10 $4.10

-46.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.81 $2.81

-7.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.87 $2.87

-14.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.95 $1.95

-7.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.18 $2.18

-16.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.37 $9.37

$8.99 $8.99

4.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$15.11 $15.11

0.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.33 $2.33

-26.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.43 $3.43

12.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.54 $1.54

27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.41 $4.41

-42.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.83 $1.83

-13.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.89 $26.89

$34.65 $34.65

-22.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.78 $0.78

-5.13%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$26.0K $26.0K

6.10%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

-6.47%

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

$326 $326

$175 $175

86.61%

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

$43.54 $43.54

$59.7 $59.7

-27.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.8 $69.8

$65.5 $65.5

6.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.60 $19.60

$61.3 $61.3

-68.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$13.15 $13.15

$14.76 $14.76

-10.91%

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

$925 $925

$1,372 $1,372

-32.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K $16.3K

$22.2K $22.2K

-26.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.52 $40.52

$56.5 $56.5

-28.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.22 $39.22

$45.29 $45.29

-13.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$85.0 $85.0

18.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.1 $69.1

$118 $118

-41.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 $1,172

$2,201 $2,201

-46.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$985 $985

$1,403 $1,403

-29.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,603 $1,603

$3,815 $3,815

-57.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,177 $1,177

$2,680 $2,680

-56.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,481 $1,481

$7,133 $7,133

-79.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,465 $1,465

$3,078 $3,078

-52.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,355 $3,355

$5,110 $5,110

-34.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

6.45

-4.34%

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

Last update for Joplin, MO: July 13, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,172 in Joplin, MO and $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 52% 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: $55.0 in Joplin, MO vs $76.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $326 vs $379 per month, with Joplin, MO 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

Joplin, MO vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Joplin, MO wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Joplin, MO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 52% 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: $1,172 in Joplin, MO versus $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $925 in Joplin, MO versus $1,372 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 Joplin, MO – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,221 in Joplin, MO versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Joplin, MO but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Joplin, MO 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, Joplin, MO 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 Joplin, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.