Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Waukesha, WI and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Waukesha, WI: $2,030 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

98

Cost of Living Index in Waukesha, WI
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Waukesha, WI Living Index
129

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

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Waukesha, WI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,030

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,698

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,030 in Waukesha, WI versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

Waukesha, WI $2,030
Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,967 in Waukesha, WI versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

Waukesha, WI $2,967
Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,905 in Waukesha, WI versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

Waukesha, WI $3,905
Austin, TX $5,622

Living in Waukesha, WI costs roughly 25% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waukesha, WI 50% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.70 $16.70

$20.63 $20.63

-19.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.5 $76.5

$84.6 $84.6

-9.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.99 $10.99

$12.07 $12.07

-8.95%

Cappuccino

$4.88 $4.88

$5.48 $5.48

-10.95%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$3.80 $3.80

-26.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.47 $2.47

-20.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$8.05 $8.05

-24.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.81 $6.81

$8.88 $8.88

-23.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.11 $1.11

-27.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.72 $3.72

-8.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.37 $3.37

32.34%

Eggs

$3.59 $3.59

$4.32 $4.32

-16.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.04 $9.04

$13.13 $13.13

-31.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.29 $11.29

$14.15 $14.15

-20.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.57 $16.57

$16.33 $16.33

1.47%

Apples (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.55 $4.55

16.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.46 $1.46

17.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$4.71 $4.71

-23.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$4.15 $4.15

24.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.58 $2.58

-31.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.35 $2.35

11.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.77 $1.77

-9.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.14 $2.14

-13.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.39 $8.39

$10.10 $10.10

-16.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.90 $10.90

$15.19 $15.19

-28.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.82 $2.82

-38.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.44 $3.44

-1.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.54 $1.54

33.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.0 $50.0

$40.99 $40.99

22.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.80 $2.80

2.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.60 $1.60

2.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.09 $21.09

$34.34 $34.34

-38.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.94 $0.94

8.51%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$34.0K $34.0K

-26.59%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.8K $26.8K

-5.70%

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

$200 $200

$223 $223

-9.99%

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

$51.2 $51.2

$58.9 $58.9

-13.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.5 $60.5

$70.6 $70.6

-14.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 $50.3

$57.7 $57.7

-12.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.53 $16.53

Cinema Ticket

$14.06 $14.06

$14.26 $14.26

-1.40%

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

$1,472 $1,472

$1,511 $1,511

-2.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K $24.2K

$20.9K $20.9K

15.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 $53.3

$51.3 $51.3

4.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.55 $40.55

$44.17 $44.17

-8.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 $89.2

$87.0 $87.0

2.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.3 $76.3

$104 $104

-26.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 $1,006

$1,940 $1,940

-48.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$805 $805

$1,316 $1,316

-38.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,616 $1,616

$3,664 $3,664

-55.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,190 $1,190

$2,565 $2,565

-53.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 $2,430

$7,354 $7,354

-66.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,375 $2,375

$3,129 $3,129

-24.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,340 $4,340

$5,286 $5,286

-17.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.79

-3.83%

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

Last update for Waukesha, WI: October 19, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Waukesha, WI

$805 39.7%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.8% 63.5% $511

Groceries & Markets

Waukesha, WI

$361 17.8%

Austin, TX

$406 15.1% 12.5% $45

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Waukesha, WI

$312 15.4%

Austin, TX

$352 13.1% 12.8% $40

Eating Out

Waukesha, WI

$288 14.2%

Austin, TX

$350 13% 21.6% $62

Clothing & Footwear

Waukesha, WI

$117 5.8%

Austin, TX

$129 4.8% 10.6% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Waukesha, WI

$78 3.9%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 9.9% $7.8

Getting Around

Waukesha, WI

$69 3.4%

Austin, TX

$58 2.2% 16.4% $11

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Waukesha, WI and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 22% 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: $76.0 in Waukesha, WI vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $361 vs $406 per month, with Waukesha, WI cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Waukesha, WI

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

19:29 7:29 PM

Same time as Waukesha, WI

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

71,158

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

Waukesha, WI Austin, TX 1,650 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Waukesha, WI
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

Waukesha, WI vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Waukesha, WI wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Waukesha, WI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 22% 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: $1,006 in Waukesha, WI versus $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,030 per month in Waukesha, WI versus $2,698 in Austin, TX – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Waukesha, WI runs roughly 22% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,030 in Waukesha, WI versus $2,698 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Waukesha, WI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Waukesha, WI 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.

Safety-wise, Waukesha, WI 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 Waukesha, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.