Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Geneva, WI and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Geneva, WI and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,580 in Lake Geneva, WI versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,438 in Lake Geneva, WI versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,295 in Lake Geneva, WI versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Lake Geneva, WI costs roughly 3% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lake Geneva, WI 93% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.73 $20.73

$19.63 $19.63

5.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$75.1 $75.1

34.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.81 $11.81

$9.92 $9.92

19.05%

Cappuccino

$5.76 $5.76

$5.67 $5.67

1.59%

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

$3.09 $3.09

$2.77 $2.77

11.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.17 $2.17

9.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.84 $5.84

18.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.43 $8.43

$7.77 $7.77

8.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.09 $1.09

-9.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.41 $3.41

-27.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.43 $3.43

56.85%

Eggs

$1.94 $1.94

$4.39 $4.39

-55.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.26 $14.26

$11.95 $11.95

19.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.80 $9.80

$10.76 $10.76

-8.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 $9.87

$14.29 $14.29

-30.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$4.84 $4.84

-12.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.55 $1.55

13.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.46 $4.46

-4.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$3.91 $3.91

15.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.74 $2.74

-10.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.74 $2.74

-1.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.04 $2.04

17.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.25 $2.25

16.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.71 $8.71

$8.93 $8.93

-2.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.20 $13.20

$14.85 $14.85

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.35 $2.35

1.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.57 $3.57

0.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.47 $1.47

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$4.28 $4.28

-25.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.84 $1.84

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.06 $25.06

$35.54 $35.54

-29.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.72 $0.72

16.67%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

24.18%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.22%

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

$188 $188

$174 $174

8.21%

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

$63.4 $63.4

$60.2 $60.2

5.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.31 $49.31

$66.3 $66.3

-25.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.27 $39.27

$62.8 $62.8

-37.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$9.85 $9.85

$15.24 $15.24

-35.37%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,387 $1,387

51.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.6K $38.6K

$22.2K $22.2K

74.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$56.7 $56.7

13.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$45.34 $45.34

15.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 $95.8

$86.5 $86.5

10.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$119 $119

20.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,524 $1,524

$2,247 $2,247

-32.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,339 $1,339

$1,430 $1,430

-6.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,676 $1,676

$3,778 $3,778

-55.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 $1,511

$2,641 $2,641

-42.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,907 $2,907

$7,044 $7,044

-58.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,256 $2,256

$3,162 $3,162

-28.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,766 $3,766

$5,108 $5,108

-26.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

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

Last update for Lake Geneva, WI: May 31, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Lake Geneva, WI and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 36% 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: $101 in Lake Geneva, WI vs $75.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $356 vs $377, with Lake Geneva, WI cheaper for home cooking.

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

Lake Geneva, WI vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lake Geneva, WI wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lake Geneva, WI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Austin, TX earns 36% less. 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: $1,524 in Lake Geneva, WI versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,097 in Lake Geneva, WI 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 Lake Geneva, WI – a meal for two runs $101 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lake Geneva, WI 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 Lake Geneva, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.