Cost of Living in Austin
United States
Comfortable budget (single)
$3,995/month
Range $2,523–$3,995/month
Last updated: 2026-03
Can you afford to live in Austin?
Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).
Daily costs at a glance
Typical prices you'll pay in Austin for everyday essentials.
Coffee
$5
flat white at cafe
Beer
$7
pint at pub
Lunch
$21
meal at inexpensive restaurant
Groceries
$500
single-person monthly groceries
Transport
$111
monthly pass
Gym
$53
monthly membership
Full cost breakdown
Colors show how each category compares to the global average of our 100 tracked cities.
| Category | USD/month | vs global |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $1,892–$2,944 | ↑ +20% |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $999–$1,577 | ↑ +20% |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $79–$152 | ↑ +19% |
| Internet & Mobile | $32–$53 | ↑ +21% |
| Groceries (monthly) | $399–$599 | ↑ +20% |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $53–$95 | ↑ +19% |
| Coffee | $4–$6 | ↑ +25% |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $100–$121 | ↑ +20% |
| Gym membership | $37–$68 | ↑ +19% |
| Cinema ticket | $15–$19 | ↑ +21% |
Housing market
Rent vs buy snapshot for Austin — useful if you're comparing long-term relocation options.
Rent (1-bed center)
$1,892–$2,944/mo
Buy center (per m²)
$12,850
Buy outside (per m²)
$7,070
Price-to-rent ratio
20×
Avg mortgage rate
6.8%
💰 Mortgage estimate: a 60 m² apartment in Austin center at ~$12,850/m² with a 25y loan at 6.8% would cost roughly $5,351/month — compare that to the rent range above.
Local salaries (monthly net, USD)
Typical take-home in Austin. A green badge means the salary covers at least 2.5× the max rent for a 1-bed in the center.
| Role | Monthly net | Covers rent? |
|---|---|---|
| Average net salary | $5,600 | ❌ No |
| Software engineer (mid) | $9,900 | ✅ Yes |
| Marketing manager | $6,100 | ❌ No |
| Teacher (secondary) | $5,100 | ❌ No |
| Nurse (RN) | $6,400 | ❌ No |
Local insider tips
Practical ways to cut costs that actually work in Austin.
Save on transportation by using the CapMetro public transit system, especially for navigating downtown and the UT campus.
For affordable and diverse groceries, frequent H-E-B stores, a beloved Texas-based supermarket chain.
Enjoy free outdoor recreation by visiting Zilker Park, home to Barton Springs Pool and extensive green spaces.
Budget scenarios
Single
$2,523–$3,995/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,944/mo
- Groceries: ~$599/mo
- Transport: ~$121/mo
Couple
$3,995–$6,097/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,944/mo
- Groceries: ~$599/mo
- Transport: ~$121/mo
Family
$5,782–$8,936/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,944/mo
- Groceries: ~$599/mo
- Transport: ~$121/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Austin Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $2,365–$3,680/mo
Austin Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $2,081–$3,238/mo
Austin Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,514–$2,355/mo
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • No state income tax
- • Music scene
- • Startups
❌ Cons
- • Heat
- • Sprawl
- • Rising costs
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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.