Cost of Living in Austin, TX
| Cost of Living in Austin, TX | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 38% higher | 16% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 8% lower | 6% lower |
| Food | 0% | 9% lower |
| Healthcare | 8% higher | 2% higher |
| Transportation | 7% lower | 9% lower |
| Goods & Services | 2% higher | 2% lower |
The cost of living in Austin, TX is 10% higher than the state average and 1% higher than the national average. Austin, TX housing is 16% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 6% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 2% less in Austin, TX than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 2% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 2% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 2% cheaper in Austin, TX.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Austin is $1,806, while home prices circle around $495,465.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Austin, energy bills cost around $156.31 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $2.76 in Austin, a dozen eggs go for around $2.83 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.11.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Austin, an optometry check-up costs around $118.08, while a dentist appointment is priced $120.40 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.35 in Austin, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $53.54.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $34.06 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $31.46.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Austin, you should budget around $12.59 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $30.69, while dry cleaning costs about $12.68.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Austin, the median household income is $78,965.