Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Owensboro, KY and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Owensboro, KY: $1,977 a month against $2,607 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

95

Cost of Living Index in Owensboro, KY
Learn more

Owensboro, KY Living Index
125

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
Learn more

Austin, TX Living Index

Jump to prices

Owensboro, KY

🇺🇸 United States

$1,977

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,607

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,977 in Owensboro, KY versus $2,607 in Austin, TX.

Owensboro, KY $1,977
Austin, TX $2,607

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,919 in Owensboro, KY versus $4,031 in Austin, TX.

Owensboro, KY $2,919
Austin, TX $4,031

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,861 in Owensboro, KY versus $5,454 in Austin, TX.

Owensboro, KY $3,861
Austin, TX $5,454

Living in Owensboro, KY costs roughly 24% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Owensboro, KY 45% above, Austin, TX 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.39 $19.39

$20.35 $20.35

-4.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.8 $59.8

$84.7 $84.7

-29.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 $9.82

$12.12 $12.12

-18.98%

Cappuccino

$5.53 $5.53

$5.65 $5.65

-2.12%

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

$1.88 $1.88

$3.68 $3.68

-48.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 $1.35

$2.36 $2.36

-42.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.99 $3.99

$7.87 $7.87

-49.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 $4.96

$8.82 $8.82

-43.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.14 $1.14

-30.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.69 $3.69

-12.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.31 $3.31

29.31%

Eggs

$3.02 $3.02

$4.15 $4.15

-27.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$12.98 $12.98

-48.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.01 $11.01

$13.86 $13.86

-20.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$16.34 $16.34

-25.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.69 $4.69

-7.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.45 $1.45

-14.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$5.11 $5.11

-47.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$4.52 $4.52

-21.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 $2.27

$3.08 $3.08

-26.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.38 $2.38

-8.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.80 $1.80

14.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.22 $2.22

-31.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.73 $8.73

$9.97 $9.97

-12.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$15.05 $15.05

-47.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.91 $2.91

-36.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 $4.94

$3.33 $3.33

48.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.22 $1.22

-16.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.58 $30.58

$40.53 $40.53

-24.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.54 $5.54

$2.78 $2.78

99.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.65 $1.65

-36.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.13 $18.13

$35.39 $35.39

-48.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.95 $0.95

-9.47%

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

$27.9K $27.9K

$34.2K $34.2K

-18.45%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$26.8K $26.8K

1.60%

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

$172 $172

$223 $223

-22.91%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$58.5 $58.5

4.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 $59.7

$71.2 $71.2

-16.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.91 $49.91

$53.0 $53.0

-5.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

$16.75 $16.75

-39.28%

Cinema Ticket

$13.19 $13.19

$14.06 $14.06

-6.19%

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

$1,459 $1,459

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.3K $21.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.5 $74.5

$52.5 $52.5

41.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.29 $43.29

$42.75 $42.75

1.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 $68.0

$86.4 $86.4

-21.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 $89.3

$104 $104

-13.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$844 $844

$2,112 $2,112

-60.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$834 $834

$1,230 $1,230

-32.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,441 $1,441

$3,863 $3,863

-62.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,364 $1,364

$2,407 $2,407

-43.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,744 $1,744

$7,426 $7,426

-76.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,738 $1,738

$3,060 $3,060

-43.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,362 $3,362

$5,179 $5,179

-35.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.82

-3.96%

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

Last update for Owensboro, KY: October 24, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Owensboro, KY

$834 42.2%

Austin, TX

$1.2K 47.2% 47.5% $396

Groceries & Markets

Owensboro, KY

$311 15.7%

Austin, TX

$410 15.7% 31.8% $99

Eating Out

Owensboro, KY

$294 14.9%

Austin, TX

$348 13.4% 18.5% $54

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Owensboro, KY

$293 14.8%

Austin, TX

$353 13.5% 20.6% $60

Clothing & Footwear

Owensboro, KY

$124 6.3%

Austin, TX

$128 4.9% 3.8% $4.7

Sport & Entertainment

Owensboro, KY

$76 3.9%

Austin, TX

$81 3.1% 6.4% $4.9

Getting Around

Owensboro, KY

$45 2.3%

Austin, TX

$56 2.2% 24.3% $11

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $844 in Owensboro, KY and $2,112 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 54% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $60 in Owensboro, KY vs $85 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $311 vs $410 per month, with Owensboro, KY cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Owensboro, KY

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

07:17 7:17 AM

Same time as Owensboro, KY

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

55,525

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Owensboro, KY Austin, TX 1,290 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Owensboro, KY
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

Owensboro, KY vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Owensboro, KY wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Owensboro, KY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Owensboro, KY. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $844 in Owensboro, KY versus $2,112 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Owensboro, KY – a meal for two runs $60 versus $85 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Owensboro, KY runs roughly 25% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.

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.

Expats usually find Owensboro, KY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.