Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Plano, TX and Austin, TX

For one person, living costs are similar in Plano, TX and in Austin, TX: $2,661 and $2,607 a month, rent and utilities included.

129

Cost of Living Index in Plano, TX
Learn more

Plano, TX Living Index
125

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
Learn more

Austin, TX Living Index

Jump to prices

Plano, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,661

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,607

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,661 in Plano, TX versus $2,607 in Austin, TX.

Plano, TX $2,661
Austin, TX $2,607

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,976 in Plano, TX versus $4,031 in Austin, TX.

Plano, TX $3,976
Austin, TX $4,031

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,292 in Plano, TX versus $5,454 in Austin, TX.

Plano, TX $5,292
Austin, TX $5,454

Monthly costs are close between Plano, TX and Austin, TX; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Plano, TX 96% above, Austin, TX 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.20 $20.20

$20.35 $20.35

-0.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.4 $77.4

$84.7 $84.7

-8.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

$12.12 $12.12

-15.92%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.65 $5.65

-1.95%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$3.68 $3.68

-27.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.36 $2.36

-4.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.77 $6.77

$7.87 $7.87

-13.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.29 $7.29

$8.82 $8.82

-17.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.14 $1.14

-16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.69 $3.69

-11.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$3.31 $3.31

45.62%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.15 $4.15

13.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 $13.19

$12.98 $12.98

1.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.38 $11.38

$13.86 $13.86

-17.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.23 $18.23

$16.34 $16.34

11.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$4.69 $4.69

-2.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.45 $1.45

9.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$5.11 $5.11

-47.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$4.52 $4.52

-32.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 $2.36

$3.08 $3.08

-23.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.38 $2.38

9.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.80 $1.80

11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.22 $2.22

27.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.19 $10.19

$9.97 $9.97

2.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.73 $15.73

$15.05 $15.05

4.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.91 $2.91

-42.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.33 $3.33

1.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.22 $1.22

147.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$124 $124

$40.53 $40.53

206.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.78 $2.78

6.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.65 $1.65

3.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.23 $15.23

$35.39 $35.39

-56.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.95 $0.95

2.11%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$34.2K $34.2K

-20.80%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.8K $26.8K

-2.83%

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

$194 $194

$223 $223

-13.19%

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

$47.32 $47.32

$58.5 $58.5

-19.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.9 $54.9

$71.2 $71.2

-22.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.03 $37.03

$53.0 $53.0

-30.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.04 $4.04

$16.75 $16.75

-75.88%

Cinema Ticket

$14.87 $14.87

$14.06 $14.06

5.76%

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

$1,166 $1,166

$1,459 $1,459

-20.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K $24.7K

$21.3K $21.3K

15.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 $60.2

$52.5 $52.5

14.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.77 $38.77

$42.75 $42.75

-9.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 $84.5

$86.4 $86.4

-2.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.7 $67.7

$104 $104

-34.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,606 $1,606

$2,112 $2,112

-23.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 $1,320

$1,230 $1,230

7.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,518 $2,518

$3,863 $3,863

-34.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,320 $2,320

$2,407 $2,407

-3.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,665 $2,665

$7,426 $7,426

-64.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,294 $2,294

$3,060 $3,060

-25.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,813 $5,813

$5,179 $5,179

12.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.82

-4.55%

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

Last update for Plano, TX: October 26, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Plano, TX

$1.3K 49.6%

Austin, TX

$1.2K 47.2% 6.8% $90

Groceries & Markets

Plano, TX

$391 14.7%

Austin, TX

$410 15.7% 4.9% $19

Eating Out

Plano, TX

$327 12.3%

Austin, TX

$348 13.4% 6.5% $21

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Plano, TX

$296 11.1%

Austin, TX

$353 13.5% 19.2% $57

Getting Around

Plano, TX

$148 5.6%

Austin, TX

$56 2.2% 61.8% $91

Clothing & Footwear

Plano, TX

$113 4.3%

Austin, TX

$128 4.9% 13.6% $15

Sport & Entertainment

Plano, TX

$67 2.5%

Austin, TX

$81 3.1% 21.6% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,606 in Plano, TX and $2,112 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Plano, TX pays 12% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $77 in Plano, TX vs $85 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $391 vs $410 per month, with Plano, TX cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Plano, TX

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

01:18 1:18 AM

Same time as Plano, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

288,253

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Plano, TX Austin, TX 320 km

From you

Plano, TX
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

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

Average pay runs 12% higher in Plano, TX, 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: $1,606 in Plano, TX versus $2,112 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,166 in Plano, TX versus $1,459 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 Plano, TX – a meal for two runs $77 versus $85 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Austin, TX wins on affordability, Plano, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.