Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Al-jahra'

For one person, living is cheaper in Al-jahra': $1,239 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $17,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Al-jahra'
🇰🇼 Kuwait
$1,239
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Al-jahra'

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Al-jahra' actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,663 per month in Austin, TX vs $1,239 in Al-jahra', rent included.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Al-jahra' $1,239

A couple spends around $4,133 per month in Austin, TX vs $2,292 in Al-jahra', rent included.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Al-jahra' $2,292

A family of three spends $5,603 per month in Austin, TX vs $3,344 in Al-jahra', rent included.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Al-jahra' $3,344

Austin, TX costs about 115% more than Al-jahra', and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Austin, TX sits 97% above the global median, while Al-jahra' is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Al-jahra'
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$12.85 KWD 3.96
61.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$63.9 KWD 19.69
32.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$8.99 KWD 2.77
37.04%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.14 KWD 0.97
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.92 KWD 1.51
-
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$5.33 KWD 1.64
5.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$0.74 KWD 0.23
402.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.31 KWD 0.10
706.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Al-jahra'
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.63 KWD 0.50
-31.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.46 KWD 0.45
156.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.96 KWD 0.60
66.33%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$2.11 KWD 0.65
97.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$4.24 KWD 1.31
204.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$6.79 KWD 2.09
108.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$10.00 KWD 3.08
62.20%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$2.42 KWD 0.75
78.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.93 KWD 0.59
-24.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.85 KWD 0.57
143.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.55 KWD 0.48
180.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.31 KWD 0.40
96.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.41 KWD 0.44
66.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.37 KWD 0.73
-24.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.58 KWD 0.18
282.76%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$3.19 KWD 0.98
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.05 KWD 0.32
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.37 KWD 0.42
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$2.69 KWD 0.83
267.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Al-jahra'
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.76 KWD 0.23
96.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$4.79 KWD 1.47
-43.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$3.17 KWD 0.98
-47.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$16.36 KWD 5.04
115.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.33 KWD 0.10
187.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$21.3K KWD 6,548
69.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$20.6K KWD 6,335
31.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Al-jahra'
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$20.20 KWD 6.22
1033.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$22.31 KWD 6.87
166.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$30.02 KWD 9.25
132.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Al-jahra'
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$98.2 KWD 30.25
-41.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$11.08 KWD 3.41
28.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Al-jahra'
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$296 KWD 91.1
409.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$9,351 KWD 2,881
129.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Al-jahra'
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$37.34 KWD 11.51
41.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$39.13 KWD 12.05
11.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$95.5 KWD 29.43
-11.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$87.1 KWD 26.84
18.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Al-jahra'
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$771 KWD 237
147.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$522 KWD 161
144.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,693 KWD 522
116.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$1,520 KWD 468
67.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Al-jahra'
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$2,909 KWD 896
76.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
6.53
3.98%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Al-jahra': October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Al-jahra'
$522 59% $752
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Al-jahra'
$186 54% $219
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Al-jahra'
$73 79.8% $286
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Al-jahra'
$198 44.1% $156
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Al-jahra'
$117 8.9% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Al-jahra'
$120 40.3% $35
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Al-jahra'
$24 * 59.7% $35

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $771 in Al-jahra'. 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 76% 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 $85.0 in Austin, TX versus $64.0 in Al-jahra'. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $405 vs $186 – making Al-jahra' the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇰🇼 Al-jahra'
🕒 Local time
10:01 10:01 AM
18:01 6:01 PM
8 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
393,432
💱 Currency
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD د.ك
Exchange rates and currency converter

KWD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Kuwaiti Dinar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.308 KWD (1 KWD = 3.25 USD). 1 EUR = 0.346 KWD (1 KWD = 2.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Al-jahra' 12,440 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Al-jahra'

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Austin, TX vs Al-jahra': Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al-jahra' cheaper than Austin, TX?
Yes – Austin, TX is pricier by about 115%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,995 per month in Austin, TX and $1,859 in Al-jahra'. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Al-jahra', especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Austin, TX or in Al-jahra'?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Austin, TX and $64.0 in Al-jahra'. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Austin, TX and in Al-jahra'?
Groceries cost about 118% more in Austin, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Austin, TX or in Al-jahra'?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-jahra', where all-in costs run around $1,239, than in Austin, TX at $2,663. In Al-jahra' it covers expenses comfortably, while in Austin, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Austin, TX or Al-jahra' more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al-jahra' – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al-jahra'. 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.

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