Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Moline, IL and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Moline, IL: $2,197 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Moline, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,197
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,197 in Moline, IL versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Moline, IL $2,197
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,233 in Moline, IL versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Moline, IL $3,233
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,270 in Moline, IL versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Moline, IL $4,270
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Moline, IL costs roughly 18% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Moline, IL 63% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moline, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.92 $20.92
$20.77 $20.77
0.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.0 $89.0
$84.6 $84.6
5.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.36 $8.36
$12.32 $12.32
-32.14%
Cappuccino
$4.90 $4.90
$5.63 $5.63
-12.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$3.72 $3.72
-29.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.50 $2.50
-39.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.90 $3.90
$8.05 $8.05
-51.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10 $4.10
$9.01 $9.01
-54.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moline, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.12 $1.12
-9.82%
White Bread (500g)
$3.98 $3.98
$3.75 $3.75
6.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.22 $5.22
$3.26 $3.26
60.12%
Eggs
$3.32 $3.32
$4.17 $4.17
-20.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.40 $14.40
$12.90 $12.90
11.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.74 $11.74
$14.16 $14.16
-17.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.37 $15.37
$16.22 $16.22
-5.24%
Apples (1kg)
$5.15 $5.15
$4.33 $4.33
18.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.46 $1.46
6.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.05 $4.05
$4.51 $4.51
-10.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.92 $4.92
$4.34 $4.34
13.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.58 $2.58
4.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.35 $2.35
15.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.78 $1.78
20.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.22 $2.22
23.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.99 $13.99
$9.88 $9.88
41.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.84 $14.84
$15.08 $15.08
-1.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 $1.67
$2.92 $2.92
-42.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$3.46 $3.46
-47.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Moline, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.49 $1.49
-29.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.47 $32.47
$41.72 $41.72
-22.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.19 $3.19
$2.73 $2.73
16.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.66 $1.66
-16.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.22 $25.22
$35.30 $35.30
-28.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$0.95 $0.95
24.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K $36.4K
$36.0K $36.0K
1.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$27.1K $27.1K
-10.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moline, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 $190
$229 $229
-16.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.0 $69.0
$59.4 $59.4
16.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.7 $60.7
$69.9 $69.9
-13.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moline, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.98 $49.98
$57.2 $57.2
-12.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.94 $38.94
$16.33 $16.33
138.46%
Cinema Ticket
$18.12 $18.12
$14.28 $14.28
26.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moline, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,518 $1,518
$1,506 $1,506
0.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.2K $24.2K
$21.5K $21.5K
12.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moline, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.6 $66.6
$52.8 $52.8
26.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8 $51.8
$43.82 $43.82
18.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.2 $91.2
$84.8 $84.8
7.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7 $79.7
$103 $103
-22.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moline, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 $986
$1,907 $1,907
-48.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$914 $914
$1,274 $1,274
-28.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,440 $1,440
$3,664 $3,664
-60.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,311 $1,311
$2,538 $2,538
-48.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,336 $1,336
$7,614 $7,614
-82.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,336 $1,336
$3,157 $3,157
-57.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moline, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,121 $5,121
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.56
6.79
-18.11%

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

Last update for Moline, IL: October 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Moline, IL
$914
Austin, TX
$1.3K 39.4% $360
Groceries & Markets
Moline, IL
$405
Austin, TX
$405 0% $0
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moline, IL
$320
Austin, TX
$358 12% $38
Eating Out
Moline, IL
$295
Austin, TX
$354 19.8% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Moline, IL
$130
Austin, TX
$128 1.7% $2.2
Sport & Entertainment
Moline, IL
$86
Austin, TX
$86 0.5% $0.4
Getting Around
Moline, IL
$47
Austin, TX
$59 25.5% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Moline, IL and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $89.0 in Moline, IL vs $85.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $405 vs $405, with Moline, IL cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Moline, IL
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
06:28 6:28 AM
06:28 6:28 AM
Same time as Moline, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,985
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Moline, IL Austin, TX 1,410 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Moline, IL
  • 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
Moline, IL vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Moline, IL or Austin, TX?
Moline, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Moline, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Moline, IL and in Austin, TX?
You'd need roughly $3,295 in Moline, IL and $3,995 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 Moline, IL compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Moline, IL versus $1,907 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 Moline, IL compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $2,197 per month in Moline, IL versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Moline, IL compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Moline, IL runs roughly 28% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Moline, IL or in Austin, TX?
At $2,197 in Moline, IL versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Moline, IL but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Moline, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Moline, IL 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Moline, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Moline, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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