Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, MA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, MA and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,457 in Salem, MA versus $2,719 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,733 in Salem, MA versus $4,117 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,008 in Salem, MA versus $5,515 in Austin, TX.

Living in Salem, MA is roughly 27% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Salem, MA 158% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.21 $25.21

$19.99 $19.99

26.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.4 $98.4

$76.2 $76.2

29.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 $10.92

$10.13 $10.13

7.80%

Cappuccino

$5.15 $5.15

$5.49 $5.49

-6.19%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$2.72 $2.72

-6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.14 $2.14

-0.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.07 $6.07

29.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.16 $7.16

$8.04 $8.04

-10.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.09 $1.09

16.51%

White Bread (500g)

$4.44 $4.44

$3.34 $3.34

32.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.81 $8.81

$3.42 $3.42

157.60%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.32 $4.32

0.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.15 $14.15

$11.80 $11.80

19.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.12 $14.12

$10.68 $10.68

32.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.71 $8.71

$14.50 $14.50

-39.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$4.79 $4.79

-2.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.50 $1.50

-14.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$4.51 $4.51

-26.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$4.04 $4.04

13.37%

Potato (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.76 $2.76

55.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.79 $2.79

-15.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.04 $2.04

23.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.15 $2.15

63.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.84 $9.84

$9.23 $9.23

6.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.96 $12.96

$14.81 $14.81

-12.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.29 $2.29

-22.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.83 $6.83

$3.53 $3.53

93.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.52 $1.52

59.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.7 $54.7

$43.64 $43.64

25.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.29 $4.29

-18.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.82 $1.82

-12.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$35.52 $35.52

-16.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.77 $0.77

33.77%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

13.23%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.3K $26.3K

-2.08%

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

$168 $168

$172 $172

-2.53%

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

$88.5 $88.5

$60.3 $60.3

46.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.6 $82.6

$67.2 $67.2

22.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.84 $41.84

$62.8 $62.8

-33.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.92 $14.92

$14.73 $14.73

1.29%

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

$1,277 $1,277

$1,398 $1,398

-8.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$21.8K $21.8K

8.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.1 $72.1

$55.1 $55.1

30.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.9 $56.9

$45.66 $45.66

24.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 $96.0

$86.8 $86.8

10.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$115 $115

-11.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,386 $2,386

$2,245 $2,245

6.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,945 $1,945

$1,401 $1,401

38.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,694 $3,694

$3,782 $3,782

-2.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,874 $2,874

$2,708 $2,708

6.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,712 $2,712

$7,304 $7,304

-62.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,370 $2,370

$3,331 $3,331

-28.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,495 $9,495

$4,910 $4,910

93.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.45

0.93%

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

Last update for Salem, MA: April 20, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,386 in Salem, MA and $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Salem, MA pays 93% 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: $98 in Salem, MA vs $76 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $435 vs $375 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

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Salem, MA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Salem, MA pays 93% more on average, 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: $2,386 in Salem, MA versus $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,457 per month in Salem, MA versus $2,719 in Austin, TX – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 25% less than in Salem, MA. 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, Salem, MA 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 27% less than in Salem, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.