Cost of living comparison
Austin is 18.6% more expensive than Iowa.
- Restaurants
-
pay 17.9% more in Austin
- Groceries
-
pay 3.6% more in Austin
- Transportation
-
pay 8.1% more in Austin
- Housing
-
pay 45.0% more in Austin
- Childcare
-
pay 26.9% more in Austin
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 5.3% more in Austin
- Clothing
-
pay 23.7% more in Austin
The cost of housing, childcare, clothing, restaurants, transportation, and entertainment and sports in Austin are more expensive than in Iowa.
If you lived in Austin instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 17.9% more for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
Austin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.50
|
$18.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.86
|
$10.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.25
|
$2.62
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.61
|
$2.21
|
|
pay 3.6% more for groceries
|
Iowa
|
Austin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.75
|
$3.60
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.26
|
$6.37
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.55
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97
|
$3.37
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$4.71
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.33
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.69
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$1.94
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$1.61
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$1.25
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$1.25
|
|
pay 8.1% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
Austin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.26
|
$3.04
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.60
|
$45.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,209.92
|
$35,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.53
|
$16.55
|
|
pay 45.0% more for housing
|
Iowa
|
Austin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.83
|
$70.43
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,149.79
|
$2,280.66
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$848.38
|
$1,508.91
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$132.52
|
$134.36
|
|
pay 26.9% more for childcare
|
Iowa
|
Austin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.98
|
$1,465.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,039.50
|
$21,625.00
|
|
pay 5.3% more for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
Austin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.95
|
$6.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.14
|
$5.31
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.68
|
$9.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.12
|
$54.50
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$14.00
|
|
pay 23.7% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
Austin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.44
|
$63.62
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.50
|
$52.38
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.35
|
$89.78
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.02
|
$134.79
|
|
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