Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New Haven, CT and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in New Haven, CT: $2,467 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New Haven, CT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,467
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,698
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,467 in New Haven, CT versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

  • New Haven, CT $2,467
  • Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,066 in New Haven, CT versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

  • New Haven, CT $4,066
  • Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,665 in New Haven, CT versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

  • New Haven, CT $5,665
  • Austin, TX $5,622

Living in New Haven, CT costs roughly 9% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New Haven, CT 82% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New Haven, CT
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.82 $19.82
$20.63 $20.63
-3.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.9 $75.9
$84.6 $84.6
-10.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.98 $12.98
$12.07 $12.07
7.54%
Cappuccino
$5.10 $5.10
$5.48 $5.48
-6.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$3.80 $3.80
-43.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 $1.58
$2.47 $2.47
-36.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.91 $5.91
$8.05 $8.05
-26.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.89 $7.89
$8.88 $8.88
-11.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Haven, CT
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.11 $1.11
-5.41%
White Bread (500g)
$4.39 $4.39
$3.72 $3.72
18.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.39 $7.39
$3.37 $3.37
119.29%
Eggs
$5.81 $5.81
$4.32 $4.32
34.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.68 $10.68
$13.13 $13.13
-18.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.49 $10.49
$14.15 $14.15
-25.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.09 $17.09
$16.33 $16.33
4.65%
Apples (1kg)
$5.34 $5.34
$4.55 $4.55
17.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.46 $1.46
17.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.71 $4.71
-29.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.05 $3.05
$4.15 $4.15
-26.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.58 $2.58
-16.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.35 $2.35
4.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.77 $1.77
53.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 $2.84
$2.14 $2.14
32.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.87 $11.87
$10.10 $10.10
17.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.13 $17.13
$15.19 $15.19
12.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$2.82 $2.82
-38.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$3.44 $3.44
-18.90%
🚌 Getting Around
New Haven, CT
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.54 $1.54
12.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.0 $63.0
$40.99 $40.99
53.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.80 $2.80
4.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.60 $1.60
26.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.21 $24.21
$34.34 $34.34
-29.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.94 $0.94
15.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$34.0K $34.0K
-19.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$26.8K $26.8K
-3.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Haven, CT
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 $176
$223 $223
-21.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.44 $36.44
$58.9 $58.9
-38.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6 $57.6
$70.6 $70.6
-18.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Haven, CT
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.68 $31.68
$57.7 $57.7
-45.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.53 $16.53
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.68 $12.68
$14.26 $14.26
-11.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Haven, CT
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,177 $2,177
$1,511 $1,511
44.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.1K $24.1K
$20.9K $20.9K
15.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Haven, CT
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.10 $38.10
$51.3 $51.3
-25.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.58 $16.58
$44.17 $44.17
-62.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 $76.6
$87.0 $87.0
-11.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159 $159
$104 $104
52.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Haven, CT
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,844 $1,844
$1,940 $1,940
-4.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,195 $1,195
$1,316 $1,316
-9.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,141 $4,141
$3,664 $3,664
13.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,825 $2,825
$2,565 $2,565
10.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,021 $3,021
$7,354 $7,354
-58.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,657 $2,657
$3,129 $3,129
-15.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New Haven, CT
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,102 $4,102
$5,286 $5,286
-22.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.79
-4.12%

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

Last update for New Haven, CT: October 17, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New Haven, CT
$1.2K
Austin, TX
$1.3K 10.2% $122
Groceries & Markets
New Haven, CT
$413
Austin, TX
$406 1.8% $7.5
Eating Out
New Haven, CT
$319
Austin, TX
$350 9.8% $31
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Haven, CT
$270
Austin, TX
$352 30.5% $82
Clothing & Footwear
New Haven, CT
$131
Austin, TX
$129 1.2% $1.5
Getting Around
New Haven, CT
$83
Austin, TX
$58 30.1% $25
Sport & Entertainment
New Haven, CT
$57
Austin, TX
$86 51.1% $29

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,844 in New Haven, CT and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 29% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $76.0 in New Haven, CT vs $85.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $413 vs $406, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New Haven, CT
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
01:42 1:42 AM
00:42 12:42 AM
1 h behind New Haven, CT
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
124,001
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New Haven, CT Austin, TX 2,540 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • New Haven, CT
  • 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
New Haven, CT vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, New Haven, CT or Austin, TX?
New Haven, CT wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making New Haven, CT the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in New Haven, CT or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Austin, TX. 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 New Haven, CT compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,844 in New Haven, CT versus $1,940 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 New Haven, CT compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $2,467 per month in New Haven, CT versus $2,698 in Austin, TX – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in New Haven, CT compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in New Haven, CT runs roughly 54% 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 $3,000/month in New Haven, CT or in Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. New Haven, CT is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, New Haven, CT or Austin, TX?
Both work as nomad bases, but New Haven, CT delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,467 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes New Haven, CT hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find New Haven, CT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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