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: $3,293 in Queens, NY versus $2,706 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,836 in Queens, NY versus $4,169 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,378 in Queens, NY versus $5,633 in Austin, TX.

Living in Queens, NY is roughly 22% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Queens, NY 147% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.23 $17.23

$19.70 $19.70

-12.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$76.0 $76.0

32.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.87 $11.87

$9.86 $9.86

20.39%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$5.48 $5.48

-2.01%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$2.65 $2.65

-9.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$2.09 $2.09

-23.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.11 $7.11

$6.09 $6.09

16.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.23 $8.23

$8.15 $8.15

0.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.10 $1.10

15.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.39 $3.39

10.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$3.38 $3.38

50.59%

Eggs

$6.79 $6.79

$4.39 $4.39

54.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.29 $21.29

$12.10 $12.10

75.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.21 $10.21

$10.84 $10.84

-5.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.99 $19.99

$14.68 $14.68

36.17%

Apples (1kg)

$5.85 $5.85

$4.96 $4.96

17.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.51 $1.51

75.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$4.40 $4.40

-2.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.10 $4.10

0.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.81 $2.81

-0.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.87 $2.87

-11.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.95 $1.95

25.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.18 $2.18

27.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.24 $17.24

$8.99 $8.99

91.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.12 $15.12

$15.11 $15.11

0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.33 $2.33

-21.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.43 $3.43

25.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.54 $1.54

84.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

$44.15 $44.15

195.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 $3.08

$4.41 $4.41

-30.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.83 $1.83

9.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.09 $42.09

$34.65 $34.65

21.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.78 $0.78

8.97%

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

$23.3K $23.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

-10.34%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$25.9K $25.9K

-3.63%

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

$128 $128

$175 $175

-26.75%

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

$45.57 $45.57

$59.7 $59.7

-23.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.8 $57.8

$65.5 $65.5

-11.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.24 $45.24

$61.3 $61.3

-26.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.67 $47.67

$9.89 $9.89

382.00%

Cinema Ticket

$16.81 $16.81

$14.76 $14.76

13.89%

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

$1,778 $1,778

$1,372 $1,372

29.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K $15.8K

$22.2K $22.2K

-28.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.70 $49.70

$56.5 $56.5

-12.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.5 $62.5

$45.29 $45.29

37.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.2 $85.2

$85.0 $85.0

0.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$118 $118

13.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,302 $2,302

$2,201 $2,201

4.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,924 $1,924

$1,403 $1,403

37.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,688 $3,688

$3,815 $3,815

-3.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,244 $3,244

$2,680 $2,680

21.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,590 $8,590

$7,133 $7,133

20.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,065 $6,065

$3,078 $3,078

97.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,623 $3,623

$5,110 $5,110

-29.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

6.45

2.64%

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

Last update for Queens, NY: July 13, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,302 in Queens, NY and $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $101 in Queens, NY vs $76.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $460 vs $379 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

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 22% 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 41% 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: $2,302 in Queens, NY versus $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,293 per month in Queens, NY versus $2,706 in Austin, TX – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 196% 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 $2,706 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 22% less than in Queens, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.