Cost of Living Comparison Between Key West, FL and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Key West, FL and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,812 in Key West, FL versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,960 in Key West, FL versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,109 in Key West, FL versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Key West, FL is roughly 81% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Key West, FL 259% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.88 $22.88

$19.63 $19.63

16.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.3 $86.3

$75.1 $75.1

14.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.14 $12.14

$9.92 $9.92

22.38%

Cappuccino

$4.42 $4.42

$5.67 $5.67

-22.05%

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

$2.51 $2.51

$2.77 $2.77

-9.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.17 $2.17

-4.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$5.84 $5.84

1.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.43 $7.43

$7.77 $7.77

-4.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.09 $1.09

0.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.71 $3.71

$3.41 $3.41

8.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.43 $3.43

12.54%

Eggs

$4.77 $4.77

$4.39 $4.39

8.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.36 $11.36

$11.95 $11.95

-4.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.58 $13.58

$10.76 $10.76

26.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.84 $27.84

$14.29 $14.29

94.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$4.84 $4.84

3.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.55 $1.55

15.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$4.46 $4.46

1.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.32 $6.32

$3.91 $3.91

61.64%

Potato (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$2.74 $2.74

121.53%

Onion (1kg)

$8.60 $8.60

$2.74 $2.74

213.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.04 $2.04

73.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.25 $2.25

40.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.80 $7.80

$8.93 $8.93

-12.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.16 $14.16

$14.85 $14.85

-4.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.35 $2.35

-15.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$3.57 $3.57

-36.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.91 $3.91

$1.47 $1.47

165.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.28 $4.28

-4.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.84 $1.84

-17.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.71 $29.71

$35.54 $35.54

-16.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.72 $0.72

13.89%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

-2.24%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-8.57%

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

$244 $244

$174 $174

40.77%

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

$48.41 $48.41

$60.2 $60.2

-19.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.7 $68.7

$66.3 $66.3

3.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.4 $79.4

$62.8 $62.8

26.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$13.89 $13.89

$15.24 $15.24

-8.86%

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

$1,252 $1,252

$1,387 $1,387

-9.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$22.2K $22.2K

4.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.88 $31.88

$56.7 $56.7

-43.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.43 $41.43

$45.34 $45.34

-8.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.4 $65.4

$86.5 $86.5

-24.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.2 $61.2

$119 $119

-48.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,435 $3,435

$2,247 $2,247

52.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,425 $3,425

$1,430 $1,430

139.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$7,149 $7,149

$3,778 $3,778

89.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,999 $5,999

$2,641 $2,641

127.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,876 $9,876

$7,044 $7,044

40.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,710 $9,710

$3,162 $3,162

207.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,852 $5,852

$5,108 $5,108

14.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.45

-0.93%

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

Last update for Key West, FL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,435 in Key West, FL and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Key West, FL pays 15% 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: $86.0 in Key West, FL vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $484 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

Key West, FL vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 81% lower than in Key West, FL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Key West, FL pays 15% more on average, 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: $3,435 in Key West, FL versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,252 in Key West, FL versus $1,387 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 $75.0 versus $86.0 in Key West, FL. 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.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Key West, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.