| Index | Austin | Minnesota | National |
| Cost of living | 91 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 69 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 96 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 102 | 99 | 100 |
The cost of living in Austin affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Austin is 91, which is 9% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
The cost of living in Austin aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, household expenses, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. Austin residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.
Is Austin an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Austin, the median home price is 37.7% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 16.3% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Austin come in at $72,312, which is 11.1% lower than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Austin, healthcare costs are 0.8% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Austin comes in at 7.7% higher than the national average.
The cost of living data for Austin shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $93,748 | $7,812 | $2,187 | $2,813 |
| Renters | $43,830 | $3,653 | $1,023 | $1,315 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Minnesota | 6.875% | 7.875% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Minnesota | 5.35% | 9.85% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Meyer, IA | 13 | 101 | 1.0% |
| Mona, IA | 41 | 101 | 1.0% |
| Otranto, IA | 0 | 101 | 1.0% |
| Myrtle, MN | 71 | 78 | 21.6% |
| Mapleview, MN | 147 | 80 | 20.0% |
| Austin, MN | 26,125 | 91 | 8.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Zanesville, OH | 26,125 | 83 | 16.5% |
| Coral Terrace, FL | 26,129 | 127 | 27.4% |
| Dedham, MA | 26,137 | 152 | 51.6% |
| Reading, MA | 26,111 | 161 | 61.5% |
| Haines City, FL | 26,146 | 100 | 0.3% |
| Austin, MN | 26,125 | 91 | 8.7% |
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