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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $1,966 in Alamogordo, NM.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $2,979 in Alamogordo, NM.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $3,992 in Alamogordo, NM.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 37% more expensive than in Alamogordo, NM, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Alamogordo, NM 43% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$17.22 $17.22

15.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$75.2 $75.2

11.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$8.90 $8.90

38.20%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.64 $5.64

-2.84%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.92 $2.92

27.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.03 $2.03

16.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.06 $5.06

53.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$5.01 $5.01

82.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.16 $1.16

-2.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.26 $4.26

-11.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.41 $5.41

-36.60%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.30 $4.30

1.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$16.53 $16.53

-20.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$20.83 $20.83

-30.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$16.66 $16.66

3.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.81 $5.81

-22.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.80 $1.80

-20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$3.90 $3.90

19.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.46 $4.46

11.43%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$8.78 $8.78

-65.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.05 $2.05

31.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.48 $2.48

-25.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.44 $2.44

-10.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$10.54 $10.54

-10.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$16.15 $16.15

-6.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.10 $2.10

37.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.10 $4.10

-14.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$0.98 $0.98

67.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.02 $1.02

-11.76%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$30.2K $30.2K

18.65%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.1K $25.1K

10.23%

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

$222 $222

$114 $114

95.53%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$44.03 $44.03

32.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$66.6 $66.6

3.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$21.78 $21.78

-32.23%

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$11.20 $11.20

23.04%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,354 $1,354

12.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$15.6K $15.6K

35.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$61.2 $61.2

-10.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$56.7 $56.7

-22.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$81.1 $81.1

10.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,048 $1,048

85.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$844 $844

49.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$1,610 $1,610

133.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,337 $1,337

93.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,701 $1,701

335.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$1,583 $1,583

102.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$2,772 $2,772

83.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

7.33%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Alamogordo, NM: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,048 in Alamogordo, NM. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 83% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $75.0 in Alamogordo, NM. Groceries flip the comparison at $417 vs $495, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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 Alamogordo, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX and Alamogordo, NM differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($2,695 vs $1,966 including rent). Alamogordo, NM is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 83% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,048 in Alamogordo, NM. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Austin, TX pay roughly 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,695 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,966 in Alamogordo, NM – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,966 in Alamogordo, NM versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Alamogordo, NM but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Alamogordo, NM the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Alamogordo, NM gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.