Cost of Living Comparison Between Laurel, MD and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Laurel, MD and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,693 in Laurel, MD versus $2,707 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,269 in Laurel, MD versus $4,158 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,844 in Laurel, MD versus $5,608 in Austin, TX.

Living in Laurel, MD costs roughly 1% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Laurel, MD 100% above, Austin, TX 101% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.20 $12.20

$19.50 $19.50

-37.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 $50.9

$75.3 $75.3

-32.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.17 $10.17

$9.88 $9.88

2.94%

Cappuccino

$4.90 $4.90

$5.74 $5.74

-14.63%

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

$2.05 $2.05

$2.78 $2.78

-26.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.13 $2.13

-3.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.46 $6.46

$6.11 $6.11

5.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.68 $7.68

$7.86 $7.86

-2.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.09 $1.09

-9.17%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.44 $3.44

4.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$3.31 $3.31

121.45%

Eggs

$3.89 $3.89

$4.29 $4.29

-9.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$11.98 $11.98

56.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.84 $19.84

$10.74 $10.74

84.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.39 $13.39

$14.79 $14.79

-9.47%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$5.00 $5.00

25.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.49 $1.49

93.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.21 $8.21

$4.43 $4.43

85.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$10.91 $10.91

$3.95 $3.95

176.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.75 $2.75

1.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.73 $2.73

-20.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.04 $2.04

40.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.26 $2.26

30.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.87 $7.87

$9.09 $9.09

-13.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.70 $17.70

$14.99 $14.99

18.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.35 $2.35

-27.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.54 $3.54

6.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.49 $1.49

34.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.05 $44.05

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.48 $4.48

$4.47 $4.47

0.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.76 $1.76

-7.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.47 $29.47

$34.44 $34.44

-14.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.74 $0.74

13.51%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.6K $25.6K

2.75%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$26.7K $26.7K

-6.59%

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

$161 $161

$172 $172

-6.43%

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

$53.2 $53.2

$59.3 $59.3

-10.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$66.5 $66.5

-0.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.51 $42.51

$63.1 $63.1

-32.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$12.99 $12.99

$15.28 $15.28

-14.99%

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

$1,821 $1,821

$1,406 $1,406

29.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$22.0K $22.0K

7.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.55 $38.55

$56.4 $56.4

-31.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.63 $29.63

$45.72 $45.72

-35.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 $90.6

$86.0 $86.0

5.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$118 $118

3.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,582 $1,582

$2,196 $2,196

-27.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,390 $1,390

$1,434 $1,434

-3.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,631 $2,631

$3,878 $3,878

-32.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,989 $2,989

$2,610 $2,610

14.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,195 $2,195

$7,228 $7,228

-69.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,502 $2,502

$3,282 $3,282

-23.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,346 $5,346

$4,984 $4,984

7.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.45

1.55%

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

Last update for Laurel, MD: April 13, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,582 in Laurel, MD and $2,196 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Laurel, MD pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $51 in Laurel, MD vs $75 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $534 vs $379, with Austin, TX 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

Laurel, MD vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Laurel, MD wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Laurel, MD the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Laurel, MD pays 7% 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: $1,582 in Laurel, MD versus $2,196 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,821 in Laurel, MD versus $1,406 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 Laurel, MD – a meal for two runs $51.0 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. Laurel, MD 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 Laurel, MD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.