Cost of Living Comparison Between Queens, NY and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Queens, NY and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,252 in Queens, NY versus $2,695 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,733 in Queens, NY versus $4,184 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,213 in Queens, NY versus $5,674 in Austin, TX.

Living in Queens, NY is roughly 21% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Queens, NY 137% above, Austin, TX 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.28 $20.28

$19.82 $19.82

2.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.1 $81.1

$83.9 $83.9

-3.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.08 $13.08

$12.30 $12.30

6.34%

Cappuccino

$5.36 $5.36

$5.48 $5.48

-2.19%

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

$2.43 $2.43

$3.72 $3.72

-34.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.36 $2.36

-35.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.22 $8.22

$7.76 $7.76

5.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.17 $8.17

$9.14 $9.14

-10.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.13 $1.13

11.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.75 $3.75

0.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$3.43 $3.43

76.09%

Eggs

$6.99 $6.99

$4.35 $4.35

60.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.61 $12.61

$13.14 $13.14

-4.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.37 $10.37

$14.39 $14.39

-27.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.11 $20.11

$17.20 $17.20

16.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.49 $4.49

22.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.44 $1.44

18.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$4.67 $4.67

-9.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$4.97 $4.97

2.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.00 $3.00

3.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.69 $2.69

36.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.85 $1.85

52.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.18 $2.18

34.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.52 $11.52

$9.45 $9.45

21.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$15.11 $15.11

1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.89 $2.89

-37.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.49 $3.49

4.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.64 $1.64

86.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$40.44 $40.44

227.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.81 $2.81

9.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.58 $1.58

26.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.48 $42.48

$35.18 $35.18

20.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.90 $0.90

16.67%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$35.9K $35.9K

-2.90%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$27.7K $27.7K

-9.86%

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

$171 $171

$222 $222

-22.99%

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

$50.1 $50.1

$58.3 $58.3

-13.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 $52.5

$69.1 $69.1

-24.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.45 $44.45

$66.2 $66.2

-32.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$66.2 $66.2

$14.76 $14.76

348.44%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$13.78 $13.78

6.75%

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

$1,774 $1,774

$1,526 $1,526

16.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K $16.0K

$21.2K $21.2K

-24.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.62 $41.62

$54.6 $54.6

-23.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.6 $57.6

$44.01 $44.01

30.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$89.7 $89.7

-3.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$109 $109

-5.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,942 $1,942

20.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,873 $1,873

$1,258 $1,258

48.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,870 $5,870

$3,762 $3,762

56.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,974 $2,974

$2,592 $2,592

14.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,674 $8,674

$7,403 $7,403

17.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,032 $6,032

$3,203 $3,203

88.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,680 $3,680

$5,085 $5,085

-27.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

6.44

-4.19%

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

Last update for Queens, NY: August 31, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Queens, NY and $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 38% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $81.0 in Queens, NY vs $84.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $442 vs $417, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Queens, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 38% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,349 in Queens, NY versus $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,252 per month in Queens, NY versus $2,695 in Austin, TX – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 227% less than in Queens, NY. 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 work as nomad bases, but Austin, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,695 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Austin, TX hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Queens, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.