๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,085 in Marquette, MI versus $2,707 in Austin, TX.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,230 in Marquette, MI versus $4,158 in Austin, TX.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,376 in Marquette, MI versus $5,608 in Austin, TX.
๐Living in Marquette, MI costs roughly 23% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Marquette, MI55% above, Austin, TX101% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Marquette, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.83$16.83
$19.50$19.50
-13.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7$55.7
$75.3$75.3
-26.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.88$9.88
$9.88$9.88
-
Cappuccino
$6.07$6.07
$5.74$5.74
5.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52$2.52
$2.78$2.78
-9.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53$1.53
$2.13$2.13
-28.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.46$5.46
$6.11$6.11
-10.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.09$7.09
$7.86$7.86
-9.80%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Marquette, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02$1.02
$1.09$1.09
-6.42%
White Bread(500g)
$4.17$4.17
$3.44$3.44
21.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.66$3.66
$3.31$3.31
10.57%
Eggs
$4.17$4.17
$4.29$4.29
-2.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.56$11.56
$11.98$11.98
-3.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34$8.34
$10.74$10.74
-22.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.41$15.41
$14.79$14.79
4.19%
Apples(1kg)
$4.16$4.16
$5.00$5.00
-16.80%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39$2.39
$1.49$1.49
60.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.28$4.28
$4.43$4.43
-3.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.81$4.81
$3.95$3.95
21.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.90$2.90
$2.75$2.75
5.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.64$2.64
$2.73$2.73
-3.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04$2.04
$2.04$2.04
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13$2.13
$2.26$2.26
-5.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.45$9.45
$9.09$9.09
3.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.15$15.15
$14.99$14.99
1.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$2.35$2.35
-24.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68$1.68
$3.54$3.54
-52.54%
๐ Getting Around
Marquette, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97$1.97
$1.49$1.49
32.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$44.05$44.05
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49$3.49
$4.47$4.47
-21.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63$1.63
$1.76$1.76
-7.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.92$28.92
$34.44$34.44
-16.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89$0.89
$0.74$0.74
20.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K$29.6K
$25.6K$25.6K
15.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$26.7K$26.7K
-4.60%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marquette, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187$187
$172$172
8.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8$51.8
$59.3$59.3
-12.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.41$44.41
$66.5$66.5
-33.19%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Marquette, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.45$43.45
$63.1$63.1
-31.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.17$10.17
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.80$9.80
$15.28$15.28
-35.86%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Marquette, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,273$1,273
$1,406$1,406
-9.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.6K$23.6K
$22.0K$22.0K
7.42%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Marquette, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9$51.9
$56.4$56.4
-7.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54$40.54
$45.72$45.72
-11.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.4$85.4
$86.0$86.0
-0.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$118$118
-3.23%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Marquette, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,325$1,325
$2,196$2,196
-39.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$888$888
$1,434$1,434
-38.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,104$2,104
$3,878$3,878
-45.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,857$1,857
$2,610$2,610
-28.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,232$2,232
$7,228$7,228
-69.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,255$2,255
$3,282$3,282
-31.30%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Marquette, MI
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$4,984$4,984
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
6.45
0.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Marquette, MI: April 12, 2026
Last update for Austin, TX: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,325 in Marquette, MI and $2,196 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $56 in Marquette, MI vs $75 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $379 per month, with Marquette, MI 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
Marquette, MI vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Marquette, MI or Austin, TX?
Marquette, MI wins on cost โ living expenses run 30% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Marquette, MI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Marquette, MI vs Austin, TX?
You'd need roughly $3,127 in Marquette, MI and $4,061 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 Marquette, MI vs Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,325 in Marquette, MI versus $2,196 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Marquette, MI and Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $1,273 in Marquette, MI versus $1,406 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 Marquette, MI vs Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Marquette, MI โ a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Marquette, MI or Austin, TX?
At $2,085 in Marquette, MI versus $2,707 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Marquette, MI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Marquette, MI the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Marquette, MI 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.
How safe is Marquette, MI compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Marquette, MI and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Marquette, MI gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 30% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Marquette, MI vs other spots: cost of living compared