Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sioux City, IA and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Sioux City, IA: $2,168 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

106

Cost of Living Index in Sioux City, IA
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Sioux City, IA Living Index
130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Sioux City, IA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,168

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,168 in Sioux City, IA versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Sioux City, IA $2,168
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Sioux City, IA versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Sioux City, IA $3,305
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,442 in Sioux City, IA versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Sioux City, IA $4,442
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Sioux City, IA costs roughly 19% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sioux City, IA 61% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.33 $20.33

$20.77 $20.77

-2.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.0 $56.0

$84.6 $84.6

-33.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 $10.65

$12.32 $12.32

-13.56%

Cappuccino

$6.14 $6.14

$5.63 $5.63

9.06%

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

$2.11 $2.11

$3.72 $3.72

-43.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.50 $2.50

-29.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.07 $5.07

$8.05 $8.05

-37.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.61 $5.61

$9.01 $9.01

-37.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.12 $1.12

-22.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.75 $3.75

-22.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.26 $3.26

3.68%

Eggs

$3.60 $3.60

$4.17 $4.17

-13.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 $7.92

$12.90 $12.90

-38.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.58 $7.58

$14.16 $14.16

-46.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.77 $16.77

$16.22 $16.22

3.39%

Apples (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$4.33 $4.33

9.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.46 $1.46

4.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 $4.02

$4.51 $4.51

-10.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$4.34 $4.34

-8.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.58 $2.58

-22.87%

Onion (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$2.35 $2.35

107.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.78 $1.78

33.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.22 $2.22

-4.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.94 $8.94

$9.88 $9.88

-9.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.12 $15.12

$15.08 $15.08

0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.92 $2.92

-41.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.46 $3.46

-10.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.49 $1.49

18.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.88 $47.88

$41.72 $41.72

14.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.73 $2.73

-27.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.66 $1.66

-27.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.61 $19.61

$35.30 $35.30

-44.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.95 $0.95

-4.21%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$36.0K $36.0K

-1.83%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$27.1K $27.1K

-7.50%

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

$167 $167

$229 $229

-27.22%

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

$52.4 $52.4

$59.4 $59.4

-11.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.0 $69.0

$69.9 $69.9

-1.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 $98.8

$57.2 $57.2

72.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.08 $20.08

$16.33 $16.33

22.96%

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$14.28 $14.28

5.39%

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

$1,098 $1,098

$1,506 $1,506

-27.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K $12.0K

$21.5K $21.5K

-44.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.40 $43.40

$52.8 $52.8

-17.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.73 $21.73

$43.82 $43.82

-50.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 $77.2

$84.8 $84.8

-8.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 $89.3

$103 $103

-13.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$923 $923

$1,907 $1,907

-51.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$922 $922

$1,274 $1,274

-27.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,481 $1,481

$3,664 $3,664

-59.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,743 $1,743

$2,538 $2,538

-31.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,546 $1,546

$7,614 $7,614

-79.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,546 $1,546

$3,157 $3,157

-51.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,592 $3,592

$5,121 $5,121

-29.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.79

-3.24%

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

Last update for Sioux City, IA: October 10, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Sioux City, IA

$922 42.5%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 38.3% $353

Groceries & Markets

Sioux City, IA

$342 15.8%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 18.3% $62

Eating Out

Sioux City, IA

$320 14.8%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 10.5% $34

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Sioux City, IA

$288 13.3%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 24.4% $70

Sport & Entertainment

Sioux City, IA

$129 5.9%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 33.4% $43

Clothing & Footwear

Sioux City, IA

$104 4.8%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 22.8% $24

Getting Around

Sioux City, IA

$63 2.9%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 6.8% $4.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $923 in Sioux City, IA and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 43% 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: $56.0 in Sioux City, IA vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $342 vs $405 per month, with Sioux City, IA cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Sioux City, IA

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

10:22 10:22 AM

Same time as Sioux City, IA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

85,797

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Sioux City, IA Austin, TX 1,360 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Sioux City, IA
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

Sioux City, IA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sioux City, IA wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sioux City, IA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 43% 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: $923 in Sioux City, IA versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,168 per month in Sioux City, IA versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sioux City, IA runs roughly 15% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,168 in Sioux City, IA versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sioux City, IA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Sioux City, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Sioux City, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.