๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,345 in Lenoir City, TN versus $2,719 in Austin, TX.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,343 in Lenoir City, TN versus $4,117 in Austin, TX.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,341 in Lenoir City, TN versus $5,515 in Austin, TX.
๐Living in Lenoir City, TN costs roughly 14% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lenoir City, TN75% above, Austin, TX103% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lenoir City, TN
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14$12.14
$19.99$19.99
-39.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.11$35.11
$76.2$76.2
-53.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.88$9.88
$10.13$10.13
-2.47%
Cappuccino
$4.11$4.11
$5.49$5.49
-25.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26$2.26
$2.72$2.72
-16.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$2.14$2.14
-17.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.79$4.79
$6.07$6.07
-21.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.11$5.11
$8.04$8.04
-36.44%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lenoir City, TN
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.76$0.76
$1.09$1.09
-30.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16$2.16
$3.34$3.34
-35.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.53$4.53
$3.42$3.42
32.46%
Eggs
$3.23$3.23
$4.32$4.32
-25.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.88$7.88
$11.80$11.80
-33.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.62$5.62
$10.68$10.68
-47.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.90$7.90
$14.50$14.50
-45.52%
Apples(1kg)
$4.44$4.44
$4.79$4.79
-7.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17$1.17
$1.50$1.50
-22.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.65$3.65
$4.51$4.51
-19.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.39$4.39
$4.04$4.04
8.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15$2.15
$2.76$2.76
-22.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.69$2.69
$2.79$2.79
-3.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.54$1.54
$2.04$2.04
-24.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$2.15$2.15
-17.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.99$7.99
$9.23$9.23
-13.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.07$12.07
$14.81$14.81
-18.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74$1.74
$2.29$2.29
-24.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72$1.72
$3.53$3.53
-51.27%
๐ Getting Around
Lenoir City, TN
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$1.52$1.52
34.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$43.64$43.64
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.11$5.11
$4.29$4.29
19.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46$1.46
$1.82$1.82
-19.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60$29.60
$35.52$35.52
-16.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77$0.77
$0.77$0.77
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K$23.1K
$25.6K$25.6K
-9.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K$25.3K
$26.3K$26.3K
-3.93%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lenoir City, TN
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143$143
$172$172
-16.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.3$59.3
$60.3$60.3
-1.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.8$58.8
$67.2$67.2
-12.49%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lenoir City, TN
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.11$43.11
$62.8$62.8
-31.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$9.85$9.85
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.71$14.71
$14.73$14.73
-0.14%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lenoir City, TN
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$814$814
$1,398$1,398
-41.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.6K$24.6K
$21.8K$21.8K
13.00%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lenoir City, TN
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.34$41.34
$55.1$55.1
-25.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.68$35.68
$45.66$45.66
-21.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.9$73.9
$86.8$86.8
-14.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158$158
$115$115
36.87%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lenoir City, TN
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,583$1,583
$2,245$2,245
-29.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,332$1,332
$1,401$1,401
-4.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,631$2,631
$3,782$3,782
-30.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,213$2,213
$2,708$2,708
-18.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,728$2,728
$7,304$7,304
-62.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,344$2,344
$3,331$3,331
-29.63%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lenoir City, TN
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,162$3,162
$4,910$4,910
-35.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
6.45
-22.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lenoir City, TN: April 20, 2026
Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,583 in Lenoir City, TN and $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐAustin, TX pays 55% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $35 in Lenoir City, TN vs $76 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $375 per month, with Lenoir City, TN 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
Lenoir City, TN vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lenoir City, TN or Austin, TX?
Lenoir City, TN wins on cost โ living expenses run 16% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lenoir City, TN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lenoir City, TN or Austin, TX?
On paper, Austin, TX earns 55% less. 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 Lenoir City, TN vs Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,583 in Lenoir City, TN versus $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lenoir City, TN and Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $814 in Lenoir City, TN versus $1,398 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 Lenoir City, TN vs Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Lenoir City, TN โ a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lenoir City, TN or Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Lenoir City, TN is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Lenoir City, TN or Austin, TX?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lenoir City, TN gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 16% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Lenoir City, TN vs other spots: cost of living compared