Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lufkin, TX and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Lufkin, TX: $2,251 a month against $2,607 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lufkin, TX, United States
Austin, TX, United States
Lufkin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,251
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,607
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lufkin, TX and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lufkin, TX and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,251 in Lufkin, TX versus $2,607 in Austin, TX.

  • Lufkin, TX $2,251
  • Austin, TX $2,607

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,631 in Lufkin, TX versus $4,031 in Austin, TX.

  • Lufkin, TX $3,631
  • Austin, TX $4,031

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,011 in Lufkin, TX versus $5,454 in Austin, TX.

  • Lufkin, TX $5,011
  • Austin, TX $5,454

Living in Lufkin, TX costs roughly 14% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lufkin, TX 65% above, Austin, TX 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lufkin, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.07 $20.07
$20.35 $20.35
-1.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.6 $77.6
$84.7 $84.7
-8.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.94 $9.94
$12.12 $12.12
-17.99%
Cappuccino
$5.49 $5.49
$5.65 $5.65
-2.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$3.68 $3.68
-27.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.36 $2.36
-1.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.99 $6.99
$7.87 $7.87
-11.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51 $7.51
$8.82 $8.82
-14.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lufkin, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.14 $1.14
-12.28%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.69 $3.69
-15.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$3.31 $3.31
19.94%
Eggs
$5.80 $5.80
$4.15 $4.15
39.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.97 $22.97
$12.98 $12.98
76.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.84 $11.84
$13.86 $13.86
-14.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.63 $19.63
$16.34 $16.34
20.13%
Apples (1kg)
$4.60 $4.60
$4.69 $4.69
-1.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.45 $1.45
7.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$5.11 $5.11
-46.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$4.52 $4.52
-32.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$3.08 $3.08
-10.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.38 $2.38
5.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.80 $1.80
7.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.96 $2.96
$2.22 $2.22
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.10 $10.10
$9.97 $9.97
1.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.13 $20.13
$15.05 $15.05
33.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.91 $2.91
-41.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 $3.32
$3.33 $3.33
-0.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Lufkin, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.22 $1.22
50.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.7 $58.7
$40.53 $40.53
44.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.78 $2.78
8.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.65 $1.65
16.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.47 $27.47
$35.39 $35.39
-22.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$0.95 $0.95
-3.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$34.2K $34.2K
-19.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$26.8K $26.8K
-0.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lufkin, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 $202
$223 $223
-9.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.10 $47.10
$58.5 $58.5
-19.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.1 $56.1
$71.2 $71.2
-21.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lufkin, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.91 $37.91
$53.0 $53.0
-28.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.75 $16.75
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.96 $14.96
$14.06 $14.06
6.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lufkin, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,167 $1,167
$1,459 $1,459
-20.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.7K $26.7K
$21.3K $21.3K
25.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lufkin, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6 $60.6
$52.5 $52.5
15.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.64 $38.64
$42.75 $42.75
-9.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 $84.7
$86.4 $86.4
-1.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.4 $66.4
$104 $104
-36.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lufkin, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,152 $1,152
$2,112 $2,112
-45.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$923 $923
$1,230 $1,230
-24.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,553 $2,553
$3,863 $3,863
-33.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 $2,066
$2,407 $2,407
-14.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,093 $3,093
$7,426 $7,426
-58.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,079 $2,079
$3,060 $3,060
-32.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lufkin, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,179 $5,179
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.82
-4.55%

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

Last update for Lufkin, TX: October 24, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lufkin, TX
$923
Austin, TX
$1.2K 33.3% $307
Groceries & Markets
Lufkin, TX
$438
Austin, TX
$410 6.4% $28
Eating Out
Lufkin, TX
$326
Austin, TX
$348 6.7% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lufkin, TX
$305
Austin, TX
$353 15.6% $48
Clothing & Footwear
Lufkin, TX
$113
Austin, TX
$128 14% $16
Getting Around
Lufkin, TX
$79
Austin, TX
$56 28.2% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Lufkin, TX
$68
Austin, TX
$81 19.6% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,152 in Lufkin, TX and $2,112 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $78 in Lufkin, TX vs $85 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $438 vs $410, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Lufkin, TX
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
17:07 5:07 PM
17:07 5:07 PM
Same time as Lufkin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
36,085
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lufkin, TX Austin, TX 310 km
From you
  • Lufkin, TX
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Lufkin, TX vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lufkin, TX or Austin, TX?
Lufkin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Lufkin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lufkin, TX and in Austin, TX?
You’d need roughly $3,377 in Lufkin, TX and $3,911 in Austin, TX to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lufkin, TX compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,152 in Lufkin, TX versus $2,112 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Lufkin, TX compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you’ll spend $2,251 per month in Lufkin, TX versus $2,607 in Austin, TX – Lufkin, TX is about 14% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Lufkin, TX compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 31% less than in Lufkin, TX. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lufkin, TX or in Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Lufkin, TX 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: Lufkin, TX or Austin, TX?
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.

Lufkin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?