Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in West Lafayette, IN: $2,383 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

115

Cost of Living Index in West Lafayette, IN
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West Lafayette, IN Living Index
129

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

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West Lafayette, IN

🇺🇸 United States

$2,383

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,698

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,383 in West Lafayette, IN versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

West Lafayette, IN $2,383
Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,422 in West Lafayette, IN versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

West Lafayette, IN $3,422
Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,461 in West Lafayette, IN versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

West Lafayette, IN $4,461
Austin, TX $5,622

Living in West Lafayette, IN costs roughly 12% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: West Lafayette, IN 76% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.77 $11.77

$20.63 $20.63

-42.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.1 $64.1

$84.6 $84.6

-24.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.31 $6.31

$12.07 $12.07

-47.72%

Cappuccino

$4.43 $4.43

$5.48 $5.48

-19.16%

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

$1.84 $1.84

$3.80 $3.80

-51.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.47 $2.47

-38.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.12 $5.12

$8.05 $8.05

-36.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$8.88 $8.88

-60.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

$1.11 $1.11

-39.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 $3.20

$3.72 $3.72

-13.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.37 $3.37

-42.14%

Eggs

$3.78 $3.78

$4.32 $4.32

-12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.14 $22.14

$13.13 $13.13

68.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.91 $5.91

$14.15 $14.15

-58.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.81 $27.81

$16.33 $16.33

70.30%

Apples (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.55 $4.55

-4.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.46 $1.46

-15.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$4.71 $4.71

-31.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.15 $4.15

24.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.58 $2.58

32.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.35 $2.35

42.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.77 $1.77

12.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.14 $2.14

7.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.24 $11.24

$10.10 $10.10

11.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.79 $10.79

$15.19 $15.19

-28.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.82 $2.82

-39.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.44 $3.44

49.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.54 $1.54

-36.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.77 $27.77

$40.99 $40.99

-32.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.36 $5.36

$2.80 $2.80

91.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.60 $1.60

-39.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.74 $17.74

$34.34 $34.34

-48.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.94 $0.94

-5.32%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$34.0K $34.0K

-18.29%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$26.8K $26.8K

0.79%

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

$160 $160

$223 $223

-28.09%

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

$54.3 $54.3

$58.9 $58.9

-7.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.9 $62.9

$70.6 $70.6

-10.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.52 $29.52

$57.7 $57.7

-48.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.33 $12.33

$16.53 $16.53

-25.41%

Cinema Ticket

$13.52 $13.52

$14.26 $14.26

-5.19%

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

$983 $983

$1,511 $1,511

-34.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.7 $75.7

$51.3 $51.3

47.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.03 $43.03

$44.17 $44.17

-2.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.8 $66.8

$87.0 $87.0

-23.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.7 $91.7

$104 $104

-12.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,940 $1,940

-26.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,268 $1,268

$1,316 $1,316

-3.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,372 $2,372

$3,664 $3,664

-35.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,956 $1,956

$2,565 $2,565

-23.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,853 $1,853

$7,354 $7,354

-74.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,846 $1,846

$3,129 $3,129

-41.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,638 $8,638

$5,286 $5,286

63.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.79

-4.42%

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

Last update for West Lafayette, IN: October 18, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

West Lafayette, IN

$1.3K 53.2%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.8% 3.8% $48

Groceries & Markets

West Lafayette, IN

$402 16.9%

Austin, TX

$406 15.1% 1.1% $4.3

Monthly Utilities & Internet

West Lafayette, IN

$277 11.6%

Austin, TX

$352 13.1% 27% $75

Eating Out

West Lafayette, IN

$212 8.9%

Austin, TX

$350 13% 64.9% $138

Clothing & Footwear

West Lafayette, IN

$125 5.2%

Austin, TX

$129 4.8% 3.5% $4.3

Sport & Entertainment

West Lafayette, IN

$57 2.4%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 52.5% $30

Getting Around

West Lafayette, IN

$42 1.8%

Austin, TX

$58 2.2% 38.3% $16

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,428 in West Lafayette, IN and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

West Lafayette, IN pays 63% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $64.0 in West Lafayette, IN vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $402 vs $406 per month, with West Lafayette, IN cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 West Lafayette, IN

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

23:17 11:17 PM

22:17 10:17 PM

1 h behind West Lafayette, IN

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

28,997

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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Highest

Between locations

West Lafayette, IN Austin, TX 1,490 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

West Lafayette, IN
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

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

West Lafayette, IN wins on cost – living expenses run 13% 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.

Average pay runs 63% higher in West Lafayette, IN, 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: $1,428 in West Lafayette, IN 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 $2,383 per month in West Lafayette, IN versus $2,698 in Austin, TX – a 13% 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 48% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,383 in West Lafayette, IN versus $2,698 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 13% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.