Cost of Living Comparison Between Moab, UT and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Moab, UT and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,068 in Moab, UT versus $2,695 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,350 in Moab, UT versus $4,184 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,631 in Moab, UT versus $5,674 in Austin, TX.

Living in Moab, UT costs roughly 23% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Moab, UT 51% above, Austin, TX 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.93 $19.93

$19.82 $19.82

0.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.0 $61.0

$83.9 $83.9

-27.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.07 $14.07

$12.30 $12.30

14.39%

Cappuccino

$5.05 $5.05

$5.48 $5.48

-7.85%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$3.72 $3.72

-31.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.36 $2.36

-19.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 $5.93

$7.76 $7.76

-23.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.12 $6.12

$9.14 $9.14

-33.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.13 $1.13

-14.16%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.75 $3.75

-17.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$3.43 $3.43

-50.15%

Eggs

$2.77 $2.77

$4.35 $4.35

-36.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.93 $8.93

$13.14 $13.14

-32.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.05 $9.05

$14.39 $14.39

-37.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$17.20 $17.20

-13.95%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.49 $4.49

16.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.44 $1.44

2.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$4.67 $4.67

-29.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$4.97 $4.97

-27.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$3.00 $3.00

-25.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.69 $2.69

-20.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.85 $1.85

13.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.18 $2.18

-1.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.98 $9.98

$9.45 $9.45

5.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.88 $12.88

$15.11 $15.11

-14.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.89 $2.89

-32.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.49 $3.49

17.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.58 $1.58

79.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.90 $0.90

3.33%

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

$42.6K $42.6K

$35.9K $35.9K

18.67%

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

$37.5K $37.5K

$27.7K $27.7K

35.52%

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

$169 $169

$222 $222

-24.06%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$58.3 $58.3

20.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.0 $74.0

$69.1 $69.1

7.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$15.16 $15.16

$13.78 $13.78

10.01%

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

$1,148 $1,148

$1,526 $1,526

-24.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 $50.1

$54.6 $54.6

-8.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.39 $26.39

$44.01 $44.01

-40.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.6 $81.6

$89.7 $89.7

-9.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 $91.4

$109 $109

-15.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,098 $1,098

$1,942 $1,942

-43.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$968 $968

$1,258 $1,258

-23.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,335 $2,335

$3,762 $3,762

-37.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,176 $2,176

$2,592 $2,592

-16.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,877 $4,877

$7,403 $7,403

-34.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,514 $4,514

$3,203 $3,203

40.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.33

6.44

-1.71%

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

Last update for Moab, UT: August 31, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,098 in Moab, UT and $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $61.0 in Moab, UT vs $84.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $330 vs $417 per month, with Moab, UT 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

Moab, UT vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moab, UT wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Moab, UT the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $3,102 in Moab, UT and $4,042 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,098 in Moab, UT versus $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,148 in Moab, UT versus $1,526 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 Moab, UT – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,068 in Moab, UT versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Moab, UT but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Moab, UT the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Moab, UT delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,068 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Moab, UT hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Moab, UT 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.

Expats usually find Moab, UT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.