Cost of Living in Austin (2026) — Monthly Budget

Wondering how far your salary goes in Austin? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.

What things cost

One-bed apartment, central AustinUSD 1,500–2,100 / month

One-bed apartment, north or south suburbsUSD 1,200–1,600 / month

Car — insurance, fuel and parkingUSD 350–550 / month, and effectively unavoidable

Groceries, one personUSD 350–500 / month

Summer electricity bill, one-bed with air conditioningUSD 120–220 / month in July and August

Good to know

Population

≈980,000 in the city; ≈2.5 million in the metro area

Languages

English; Spanish is very widely spoken across the metro

Currency

United States dollar (USD)

Time zone

CST (GMT-6); CDT (GMT-5) from mid-March to early November

Power plug

Types A and B, 120 V / 60 Hz

Climate

Humid subtropical — long, severe summers above 38°C, mild winters, and occasional damaging ice storms

Driving side

Right

State income tax

None — Texas funds itself through property and sales tax instead

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

A note on budgeting

Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Austin checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.