Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and Austin, TX 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Austin, TX is 23.6% lower than in Boston, MA (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Austin, TX is 29.2% lower than in Boston, MA | |
| Rent Prices in Austin, TX are 36.9% lower than in Boston, MA | |
| Restaurant Prices in Austin, TX are 19.6% lower than in Boston, MA | |
| Groceries Prices in Austin, TX are 24.6% lower than in Boston, MA | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Austin, TX is 5.5% higher than in Boston, MA | |
Restaurants | Boston, MA Edit |
Austin, TX Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 25.00 $ | 20.00 $ | -20.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 120.00 $ | 80.00 $ | -33.3 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 12.00 $ | 11.00 $ | -8.3 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 8.00 $ | 6.00 $ | -25.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 9.00 $ | 8.00 $ | -11.1 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 4.98 $ | 5.33 $ | +7.1 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 2.91 $ | 2.93 $ | +0.5 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 2.29 $ | 2.20 $ | -3.8 % |
Markets | Boston, MA Edit |
Austin, TX Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 1.28 $ | 0.96 $ | -25.2 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 3.76 $ | 3.09 $ | -17.8 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 2.76 $ | 1.54 $ | -44.3 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 4.86 $ | 5.24 $ | +7.9 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 7.36 $ | 5.69 $ | -22.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 6.19 $ | 5.59 $ | -9.6 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 9.14 $ | 6.74 $ | -26.2 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.65 $ | 2.17 $ | -18.1 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 0.98 $ | 0.72 $ | -27.0 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.78 $ | 1.78 $ | -36.0 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 3.49 $ | 1.70 $ | -51.2 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.98 $ | 1.28 $ | -35.5 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.78 $ | 1.19 $ | -33.2 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 2.76 $ | 1.93 $ | -29.9 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.39 $ | 2.20 $ | -8.1 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 17.20 $ | 15.00 $ | -12.8 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 3.17 $ | 2.72 $ | -14.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 5.02 $ | 3.40 $ | -32.3 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 12.54 $ | 9.46 $ | -24.6 % |
Transportation | Boston, MA Edit |
Austin, TX Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 2.40 $ | 1.38 $ | -42.7 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 90.00 $ | 41.25 $ | -54.2 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 2.60 $ | 2.50 $ | -3.8 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 2.82 $ | 2.60 $ | -7.7 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 28.00 $ | 32.50 $ | +16.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 0.88 $ | 0.73 $ | -16.4 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 35,783.94 $ | 36,232.00 $ | +1.3 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 25,564.59 $ | 26,042.96 $ | +1.9 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Boston, MA Edit |
Austin, TX Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 202.75 $ | 181.77 $ | -10.3 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 57.89 $ | 51.56 $ | -10.9 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 78.81 $ | 68.12 $ | -13.6 % |
Sports And Leisure | Boston, MA Edit |
Austin, TX Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 92.40 $ | 62.82 $ | -32.0 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 37.33 $ | 14.50 $ | -61.2 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 15.00 $ | 15.00 $ | 0.0 % |
Childcare | Boston, MA Edit |
Austin, TX Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 2,825.07 $ | 1,376.39 $ | -51.3 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 36,703.50 $ | 21,675.00 $ | -40.9 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Boston, MA Edit |
Austin, TX Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 68.59 $ | 53.77 $ | -21.6 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 43.65 $ | 44.50 $ | +1.9 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 111.45 $ | 88.27 $ | -20.8 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 155.54 $ | 114.00 $ | -26.7 % |
Rent Per Month | Boston, MA Edit |
Austin, TX Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 3,429.71 $ | 2,149.47 $ | -37.3 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 2,579.60 $ | 1,370.31 $ | -46.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 6,017.30 $ | 3,960.95 $ | -34.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 3,939.96 $ | 2,597.29 $ | -34.1 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Boston, MA Edit |
Austin, TX Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 1,145.69 $ | 642.73 $ | -43.9 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 570.73 $ | 286.99 $ | -49.7 % |
Salaries And Financing | Boston, MA Edit |
Austin, TX Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 6,608.06 $ | 4,938.95 $ | -25.3 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.45 | 6.32 | -2.0 % |
| Last update: | 9 January 2026 | 14 January 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 84 | 109 | |
Moving to Boston, MA? Explore:
Moving to Austin, TX? Explore:
Cities near Boston, MA: | Cost of Living in Malden, Massachusetts | 5.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lynn, Massachusetts | 10.53 miles |
| Cost of Living in Natick, Massachusetts | 18.62 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tewksbury, Massachusetts | 23.94 miles |
| Cost of Living in Brockton, Massachusetts | 24.62 miles |
| Cost of Living in Acton, Massachusetts | 24.93 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ashland, Massachusetts | 25.64 miles |
| Cost of Living in Beverly, Massachusetts | 28.08 miles |
| Cost of Living in Taunton, Massachusetts | 38.93 miles |
| Cost of Living in Attleboro, Massachusetts | 39.03 miles |
Cities near Austin, TX: | Cost of Living in Seguin, Texas | 65.28 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Antonio, Texas | 79.89 miles |
| Cost of Living in Waco, Texas | 101.85 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kerrville, Texas | 102.67 miles |
| Cost of Living in College Station, Texas | 106.60 miles |
| Cost of Living in Houston, Texas | 163.29 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kingwood, Texas | 175.75 miles |
| Cost of Living in DeSoto, Texas | 183.93 miles |
| Cost of Living in De Soto, Texas | 183.94 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fort Worth, Texas | 187.07 miles |