Cost of Living Comparison Between West Lafayette, IN and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between West Lafayette, IN and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in West Lafayette, IN versus $2,719 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,402 in West Lafayette, IN versus $4,117 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,446 in West Lafayette, IN versus $5,515 in Austin, TX.

Living in West Lafayette, IN costs roughly 13% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: West Lafayette, IN 76% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.06 $13.06

$19.99 $19.99

-34.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.7 $70.7

$76.2 $76.2

-7.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.65 $6.65

$10.13 $10.13

-34.35%

Cappuccino

$4.45 $4.45

$5.49 $5.49

-18.94%

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

$1.93 $1.93

$2.72 $2.72

-29.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.14 $2.14

10.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.42 $5.42

$6.07 $6.07

-10.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$8.04 $8.04

-57.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.09 $1.09

-28.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.34 $3.34

-41.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.42 $3.42

-40.06%

Eggs

$3.94 $3.94

$4.32 $4.32

-8.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.55 $14.55

$11.80 $11.80

23.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.11 $15.11

$10.68 $10.68

41.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.05 $19.05

$14.50 $14.50

31.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.79 $4.79

-17.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.50 $1.50

-22.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$4.51 $4.51

-52.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$4.04 $4.04

-30.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.76 $2.76

-10.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.79 $2.79

-3.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.04 $2.04

22.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.15 $2.15

20.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$9.23 $9.23

61.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.16 $15.16

$14.81 $14.81

2.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.29 $2.29

-22.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.53 $3.53

5.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.52 $1.52

-36.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.08 $28.08

$43.64 $43.64

-35.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$4.29 $4.29

-26.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.82 $1.82

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.14 $25.14

$35.52 $35.52

-29.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.77 $0.77

14.29%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$25.6K $25.6K

24.53%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.99%

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

$132 $132

$172 $172

-23.29%

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

$54.1 $54.1

$60.3 $60.3

-10.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 $58.9

$67.2 $67.2

-12.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.78 $39.78

$62.8 $62.8

-36.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.38 $12.38

$9.85 $9.85

25.69%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 $8.05

$14.73 $14.73

-45.35%

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

$1,003 $1,003

$1,398 $1,398

-28.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.6K $39.6K

$21.8K $21.8K

81.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.50 $44.50

$55.1 $55.1

-19.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$45.66 $45.66

12.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 $95.5

$86.8 $86.8

10.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$115 $115

26.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,333 $1,333

$2,245 $2,245

-40.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 $1,255

$1,401 $1,401

-10.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,881 $1,881

$3,782 $3,782

-50.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,999 $1,999

$2,708 $2,708

-26.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,790 $1,790

$7,304 $7,304

-75.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,762 $1,762

$3,331 $3,331

-47.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,033 $7,033

$4,910 $4,910

43.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.45

1.24%

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

Last update for West Lafayette, IN: April 20, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,333 in West Lafayette, IN and $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

West Lafayette, IN pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71 in West Lafayette, IN vs $76 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $378 vs $375, 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

West Lafayette, IN vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

West Lafayette, IN wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making West Lafayette, IN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

West Lafayette, IN pays 43% 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: $1,333 in West Lafayette, IN 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 $2,359 per month in West Lafayette, IN versus $2,719 in Austin, TX – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in West Lafayette, IN runs roughly 55% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,359 in West Lafayette, IN versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in West Lafayette, IN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes West Lafayette, IN 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, West Lafayette, IN 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 West Lafayette, IN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.