Cost of Living Comparison Between Albuquerque, NM and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Albuquerque, NM and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,259 per month in Albuquerque, NM vs $2,659 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,436 per month in Albuquerque, NM vs $4,101 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,612 per month in Albuquerque, NM vs $5,542 in Austin, TX, rent included.

Albuquerque, NM is about 15% cheaper than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Albuquerque, NM and Austin, TX sit above the global median – Albuquerque, NM by 69%, Austin, TX by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.04 $17.04

$19.63 $19.63

-13.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.3 $79.3

$75.1 $75.1

5.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.81 $9.81

$9.92 $9.92

-1.11%

Cappuccino

$5.17 $5.17

$5.67 $5.67

-8.82%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.77 $2.77

-0.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.17 $2.17

-17.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$5.84 $5.84

3.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.18 $8.18

$7.77 $7.77

5.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.09 $1.09

-4.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.41 $3.41

-11.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.43 $3.43

-7.58%

Eggs

$4.40 $4.40

$4.39 $4.39

0.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.80 $12.80

$11.95 $11.95

7.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.39 $10.39

$10.76 $10.76

-3.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.41 $20.41

$14.29 $14.29

42.83%

Apples (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$4.84 $4.84

2.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.55 $1.55

-10.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$4.46 $4.46

-16.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.91 $3.91

17.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.74 $2.74

-12.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.74 $2.74

-8.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.04 $2.04

-0.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.25 $2.25

-0.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.11 $10.11

$8.93 $8.93

13.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.85 $13.85

$14.85 $14.85

-6.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.35 $2.35

-22.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.57 $3.57

-22.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.47 $1.47

38.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 $3.56

$4.28 $4.28

-16.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.84 $1.84

-2.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.57 $29.57

$35.54 $35.54

-16.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.72 $0.72

11.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.3K $31.3K

$25.7K $25.7K

21.55%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

0.68%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$181 $181

$174 $174

4.16%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$51.9 $51.9

$60.2 $60.2

-13.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.4 $68.4

$66.3 $66.3

3.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.67 $44.67

$62.8 $62.8

-28.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.95 $4.95

$9.83 $9.83

-49.64%

Cinema Ticket

$13.62 $13.62

$15.24 $15.24

-10.63%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,241 $1,241

$1,387 $1,387

-10.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,071 $6,071

$22.2K $22.2K

-72.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 $53.5

$56.7 $56.7

-5.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.4 $50.4

$45.34 $45.34

11.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$86.5 $86.5

11.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$119 $119

-3.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,164 $1,164

$2,247 $2,247

-48.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,036 $1,036

$1,430 $1,430

-27.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,223 $2,223

$3,778 $3,778

-41.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,967 $1,967

$2,641 $2,641

-25.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,473 $2,473

$7,044 $7,044

-64.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,201 $2,201

$3,162 $3,162

-30.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,961 $3,961

$5,108 $5,108

-22.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.45

0.62%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Albuquerque, NM: May 30, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,164 in Albuquerque, NM versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 29% higher in Austin, TX, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Albuquerque, NM versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $377 – making Austin, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Albuquerque, NM vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX costs about 18% more than Albuquerque, NM, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,389 per month in Albuquerque, NM and $3,989 in Austin, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Albuquerque, NM, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Albuquerque, NM and $75.0 in Austin, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Austin, TX – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Albuquerque, NM, where all-in costs run around $2,259, than in Austin, TX at $2,659. In Albuquerque, NM it covers expenses comfortably, while in Austin, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Albuquerque, NM – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Albuquerque, NM. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Austin, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.