How Much Does It Cost to Live In Austin, TX?
The overall cost of living in one city cannot be determined, as the lifestyles of people differ a lot.
While some of us are satisfied with a modest, decent living, others do not consider it a life if they do not enjoy luxuries and dine in posh restaurants.
However, it can be said that Austin is a city where salaries are high, which results in quite high costs of living, especially when rent is in question.
United States : Cost of Living by City
- Albany, NY
- Albuquerque, NM
- Anchorage, AK
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Arlington, TX
- Asheville, NC
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Bakersfield, CA
- Baltimore, MD
- Bellevue, WA
- Bellingham, WA
- Berkeley, CA
- Birmingham, AL
- Boise, ID
- Boston, MA
- Boulder, CO
- Brooklyn, NY
- Buffalo, NY
- Burlington, VT
- Charleston, SC
- Charlotte, NC
- Chattanooga, TN
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbia, SC
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Dayton, OH
- Denver, CO
- Des Moines, IA
- Detroit, MI
- El Paso, TX
- Eugene, OR
- Everett, WA
- Fayetteville, AR
- Fort Myers, FL
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Fort Worth, TX
- Fresno, CA
- Gainesville, FL
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Greensboro, NC
- Hartford, CT
- Honolulu, HI
- Houston, TX
- Huntsville, AL
- Indianapolis, IN
- Irvine, CA
- Jacksonville, FL
- Jersey City, NJ
- Kansas City, MO
- Knoxville, TN
- Las Vegas, NV
- Lexington, KY
- Little Rock, AR
- Long Beach, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Lubbock, TX
- Madison, WI
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New Orleans, LA
- New York, NY
- Oakland, CA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Olympia, WA
- Orlando, FL
- Peoria, IL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, ME
- Portland, OR
- Raleigh, NC
- Reno, NV
- Richmond, VA
- Rochester, NY
- Sacramento, CA
- Saint Louis, MO
- Saint Paul, MN
- Saint Petersburg, FL
- Salem, OR
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Santa Barbara, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Spokane, WA
- Springfield, MO
- Syracuse, NY
- Tacoma, WA
- Tallahassee, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Toledo, OH
- Tucson, AZ
- Tulsa, OK
- Vancouver, WA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Wichita, KS
RESTAURANTS
Austin’s restaurant prices are similar to the national average and if you are a frequent restaurant goer you can expect to pay $20 per person for a casual meal in the least expensive one.
Of course, there are those restaurants where meals are up to $50 or more, not including drinks, as the alcohol prices are quite high here.
MARKETS
The average cost of food cannot be exactly determined as, when calculated, it assumes only the basic necessities.
On the other hand, there are people who would buy organic groceries or expensive ingredients, thus increasing the amount spent on food.
Generally speaking, the food costs are around the national average.
TRANSPORTATION
Which means of transport is the best for Austin depends on your preferences.
Having a car is the most expensive option because of the high gasoline, registration, and insurance prices, and traffic jams.
Replacing driving with buses would save you a lot of money.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
If you are coming alone, you should consider finding a flatmate, so as to split all the housing costs between two or more.
Utilities, which include heat, gas, electricity, and garbage in an apartment in Austin will cost around $150 on average and they are considered affordable.
SPORTS & LEISURE
The monthly fee for a single person in some of Austin’s fitness clubs is less than $50 and this is considered affordable and reasonable, compared with the average salaries.
Visiting a cinema after a long day at work can be relaxing and the tickets are around $14 per person.
CLOTHING & SHOES
When you want to learn more about the costs associated with living in Austin, you need to include clothing prices, especially if you have younger people in your family.
They pay much attention to the designer, branded apparel, which is neither too pricey nor inexpensive in Austin.
RENT PER MONTH
Austin belongs to the top 20 priciest cities in the United States to rent, and no matter whether you choose the central areas or the outskirts, the rent is quite high.
You can save some amount on the size if you are coming alone, but if you have a family, more than $2000 per month would be spent on the rent.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Austin, TX
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $20 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $7.00 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $2.01 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.12 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $3.23 |
| Eggs (12) | $4.22 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $2.0 |
| Monthly Pass | $48.91 |
| Gasoline | $0.87 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $220.07 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.10 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $71.89 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $49.66 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $17.0 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $13.51 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $68.12 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $53.68 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $100.56 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $2390.00 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $1648.34 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $5196.96 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Austin, TX?
It is true that you can also find a less expensive place to live depending on which Austin neighborhood you have decided to live in, but that difference would not be so high.
The rent would still take you around 45% of your budget, plus additional housing expenses.
The second most expensive category is definitely food, as it is of utmost importance and cannot be avoided.
Very little money is spent on entertainment, sports, and designer clothing.
Average Costs Breakdown
Austin, TX: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
When you take into account the average monthly net salary in Austin, compared to other cities, it can be said that the prices are designed accordingly.
There are many places with not so high salaries, but higher prices.
Planning your budget in advance and being familiar with your future income are great advantages, as you will be able to prepare for the costs that await you once you come to Austin.
Buying a property here is possible, but it is not suggested if you do not have enough financial assets.
Austin Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Austin Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
