Cost of Living Comparison Between Royal Oak, MI and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Royal Oak, MI and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,828 in Royal Oak, MI versus $2,701 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,904 in Royal Oak, MI versus $4,086 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,980 in Royal Oak, MI versus $5,470 in Austin, TX.

Living in Royal Oak, MI is roughly 5% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Royal Oak, MI 112% above, Austin, TX 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.73 $17.73

$19.97 $19.97

-11.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.4 $67.4

$74.5 $74.5

-9.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.16 $10.16

$9.85 $9.85

3.15%

Cappuccino

$5.19 $5.19

$5.79 $5.79

-10.36%

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

$2.18 $2.18

$2.75 $2.75

-20.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.17 $2.17

-11.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$5.98 $5.98

1.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.08 $7.08

$8.11 $8.11

-12.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.10 $1.10

-22.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.28 $3.28

-2.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$3.37 $3.37

65.58%

Eggs

$3.27 $3.27

$4.31 $4.31

-24.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.40 $12.40

$12.02 $12.02

3.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.20 $12.20

$10.58 $10.58

15.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.94 $19.94

$14.59 $14.59

36.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$5.04 $5.04

-6.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.57 $1.57

-3.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.78 $5.78

$4.38 $4.38

31.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$4.07 $4.07

54.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.77 $2.77

44.04%

Onion (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$2.82 $2.82

63.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.96 $1.96

34.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.23 $2.23

-5.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.59 $9.59

$8.75 $8.75

9.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.14 $15.14

$14.71 $14.71

2.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.34 $2.34

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$3.47 $3.47

-27.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.52 $1.52

69.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.2 $71.2

$42.74 $42.74

66.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.31 $4.31

-41.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.80 $1.80

-23.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.23 $26.23

$35.23 $35.23

-25.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.80 $0.80

7.50%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$25.7K $25.7K

33.97%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$26.8K $26.8K

-9.54%

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

$256 $256

$173 $173

47.40%

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

$56.0 $56.0

$58.5 $58.5

-4.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$67.1 $67.1

-5.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.26 $42.26

$61.8 $61.8

-31.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$10.88 $10.88

$14.80 $14.80

-26.49%

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

$1,001 $1,001

$1,414 $1,414

-29.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.7K $16.7K

$22.1K $22.1K

-24.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 $56.2

$54.9 $54.9

2.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.31 $31.31

$46.67 $46.67

-32.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.3 $98.3

$87.6 $87.6

12.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$119 $119

19.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,483 $1,483

$2,200 $2,200

-32.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 $1,419

$1,428 $1,428

-0.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,188 $3,188

$3,769 $3,769

-15.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,063 $2,063

$2,704 $2,704

-23.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,921 $5,921

$5,093 $5,093

16.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Royal Oak, MI: July 22, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,483 in Royal Oak, MI and $2,200 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Royal Oak, MI pays 16% 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: $67.0 in Royal Oak, MI vs $74.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $423 vs $376, 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

Royal Oak, MI vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Royal Oak, MI. 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 16% higher in Royal Oak, MI, 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: $1,483 in Royal Oak, MI versus $2,200 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,828 per month in Royal Oak, MI versus $2,701 in Austin, TX – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 66% less than in Royal Oak, MI. 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, Royal Oak, MI 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 5% less than in Royal Oak, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.