Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Macon, GA and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Macon, GA: $2,316 a month against $2,607 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Macon, GA, United States
Austin, TX, United States
Macon, GA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,316
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,607
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Macon, GA 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 Macon, GA and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Macon, GA versus $2,607 in Austin, TX.

  • Macon, GA $2,316
  • Austin, TX $2,607

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,218 in Macon, GA versus $4,031 in Austin, TX.

  • Macon, GA $3,218
  • Austin, TX $4,031

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,121 in Macon, GA versus $5,454 in Austin, TX.

  • Macon, GA $4,121
  • Austin, TX $5,454

Living in Macon, GA costs roughly 11% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Macon, GA 70% above, Austin, TX 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Macon, GA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.60 $19.60
$20.35 $20.35
-3.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 $60.5
$84.7 $84.7
-28.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.10 $10.10
$12.12 $12.12
-16.67%
Cappuccino
$5.13 $5.13
$5.65 $5.65
-9.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$3.68 $3.68
-30.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 $1.62
$2.36 $2.36
-31.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.09 $5.09
$7.87 $7.87
-35.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93 $5.93
$8.82 $8.82
-32.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Macon, GA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.14 $1.14
-31.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.69 $3.69
-24.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$3.31 $3.31
-5.14%
Eggs
$2.43 $2.43
$4.15 $4.15
-41.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.59 $5.59
$12.98 $12.98
-56.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.63 $9.63
$13.86 $13.86
-30.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.62 $11.62
$16.34 $16.34
-28.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.45 $3.45
$4.69 $4.69
-26.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 $1.30
$1.45 $1.45
-10.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$5.11 $5.11
-58.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$4.52 $4.52
-18.58%
Potato (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$3.08 $3.08
4.87%
Onion (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.38 $2.38
29.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.80 $1.80
22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 $1.65
$2.22 $2.22
-25.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.71 $8.71
$9.97 $9.97
-12.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.79 $12.79
$15.05 $15.05
-15.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.91 $2.91
-26.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 $3.45
$3.33 $3.33
3.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Macon, GA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.22 $1.22
3.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.79 $49.79
$40.53 $40.53
22.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.92 $4.92
$2.78 $2.78
76.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.91 $4.91
$1.65 $1.65
197.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.6 $50.6
$35.39 $35.39
42.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$0.95 $0.95
-4.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$34.2K $34.2K
-17.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K $27.0K
$26.8K $26.8K
0.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macon, GA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 $120
$223 $223
-46.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.5 $66.5
$58.5 $58.5
13.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.4 $84.4
$71.2 $71.2
18.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Macon, GA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$53.0 $53.0
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.75 $16.75
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.46 $13.46
$14.06 $14.06
-4.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Macon, GA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$933 $933
$1,459 $1,459
-36.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.3K $18.3K
$21.3K $21.3K
-14.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Macon, GA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$52.5 $52.5
25.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.58 $34.58
$42.75 $42.75
-19.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$129 $129
$86.4 $86.4
49.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 $133
$104 $104
28.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Macon, GA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,314 $1,314
$2,112 $2,112
-37.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,171 $1,171
$1,230 $1,230
-4.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,861 $1,861
$3,863 $3,863
-51.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,607 $1,607
$2,407 $2,407
-33.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,354 $1,354
$7,426 $7,426
-81.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,351 $1,351
$3,060 $3,060
-55.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Macon, GA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,366 $3,366
$5,179 $5,179
-35.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.82
-3.67%

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

Last update for Macon, GA: October 25, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Macon, GA
$1.2K
Austin, TX
$1.2K 5.1% $60
Eating Out
Macon, GA
$303
Austin, TX
$348 15.1% $46
Groceries & Markets
Macon, GA
$297
Austin, TX
$410 37.8% $112
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macon, GA
$271
Austin, TX
$353 30.3% $82
Clothing & Footwear
Macon, GA
$163
Austin, TX
$128 21.2% $35
Getting Around
Macon, GA
$84
Austin, TX
$56 33% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Macon, GA
$27 *
Austin, TX
$81 202% $54

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,314 in Macon, GA and $2,112 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 54% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $60 in Macon, GA vs $85 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $410 per month, with Macon, GA cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Macon, GA
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
09:23 9:23 AM
08:23 8:23 AM
1 h behind Macon, GA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
152,663
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Macon, GA Austin, TX 1,370 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Macon, GA
  • 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
Macon, GA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Macon, GA or Austin, TX?
Macon, GA wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Macon, GA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Macon, GA or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Macon, GA. 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 Macon, GA compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,314 in Macon, GA 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 Macon, GA compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you’ll spend $2,316 per month in Macon, GA versus $2,607 in Austin, TX – Macon, GA is about 11% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Macon, GA compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 19% less than in Macon, GA. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Macon, GA or in Austin, TX?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Macon, GA gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for families?
For families, Macon, GA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Austin, TX, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Should I move to Macon, GA or to Austin, TX?
It comes down to priorities – Macon, GA wins on affordability, Austin, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Macon, GA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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