Cost of Living Comparison Between Newton, MA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Newton, MA and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,475 in Newton, MA versus $2,715 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,002 in Newton, MA versus $4,156 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,530 in Newton, MA versus $5,596 in Austin, TX.

Living in Newton, MA is roughly 28% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Newton, MA 154% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.55 $29.55

$19.66 $19.66

50.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$84.6 $84.6

40.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.30 $12.30

-3.58%

Cappuccino

$6.34 $6.34

$5.45 $5.45

16.33%

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

$3.02 $3.02

$3.62 $3.62

-16.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.41 $2.41

-3.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.18 $8.18

$7.91 $7.91

3.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.98 $7.98

$8.89 $8.89

-10.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.07 $1.07

12.15%

White Bread (500g)

$4.58 $4.58

$3.68 $3.68

24.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.54 $6.54

$3.34 $3.34

95.81%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$4.29 $4.29

-0.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.47 $19.47

$13.00 $13.00

49.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.05 $11.05

$14.24 $14.24

-22.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.13 $16.13

$16.68 $16.68

-3.30%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$4.49 $4.49

14.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.42 $1.42

21.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.59 $5.59

$4.59 $4.59

21.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.59 $6.59

$4.67 $4.67

41.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$2.71 $2.71

36.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.58 $2.58

53.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.89 $1.89

47.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.19 $2.19

14.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.29 $12.29

$10.04 $10.04

22.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.31 $16.31

$15.08 $15.08

8.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.92 $2.92

-36.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.29 $3.29

-17.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.53 $1.53

52.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.0 $91.0

$41.52 $41.52

119.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.70 $2.70

-27.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.65 $1.65

-4.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.07 $11.07

$35.05 $35.05

-68.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.89 $0.89

2.25%

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

$36.9K $36.9K

$36.4K $36.4K

1.41%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.1K $27.1K

-5.10%

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

$262 $262

$223 $223

17.43%

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

$54.5 $54.5

$57.4 $57.4

-5.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.7 $78.7

$68.3 $68.3

15.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.4 $65.4

$65.6 $65.6

-0.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

Cinema Ticket

$15.34 $15.34

$13.95 $13.95

9.96%

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

$2,892 $2,892

$1,523 $1,523

89.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.4K $35.4K

$21.4K $21.4K

65.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.5 $73.5

$53.1 $53.1

38.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.1 $50.1

$42.81 $42.81

17.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 $112

$85.3 $85.3

31.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$103 $103

31.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,850 $1,850

$1,948 $1,948

-5.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,848 $1,848

$1,267 $1,267

45.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,151 $5,151

$3,765 $3,765

36.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,590 $4,590

$2,553 $2,553

79.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,008 $6,008

$7,179 $7,179

-16.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,362 $5,362

$3,140 $3,140

70.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,801 $7,801

$4,955 $4,955

57.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

6.47

-3.40%

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

Last update for Newton, MA: September 15, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,850 in Newton, MA and $1,948 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Newton, MA pays 57% 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: $119 in Newton, MA vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $462 vs $409 per month, with Austin, TX 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

Newton, MA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Newton, MA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 57% higher in Newton, MA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,850 in Newton, MA versus $1,948 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,475 per month in Newton, MA versus $2,715 in Austin, TX – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 119% less than in Newton, MA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Newton, MA 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Newton, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.