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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,701 per month in Austin, TX vs $2,289 in Albuquerque, NM, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,086 per month in Austin, TX vs $3,538 in Albuquerque, NM, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,470 per month in Austin, TX vs $4,787 in Albuquerque, NM, rent included.

Austin, TX costs about 18% more than Albuquerque, NM, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Austin, TX and Albuquerque, NM sit above the global median – Austin, TX by 102%, Albuquerque, NM by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$17.01 $17.01

17.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$81.0 $81.0

-8.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$9.86 $9.86

-0.10%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.13 $5.13

12.87%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.78 $2.78

-1.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.80 $1.80

20.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$6.16 $6.16

-2.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$8.04 $8.04

0.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.05 $1.05

4.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.00 $3.00

9.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.20 $3.20

5.31%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.36 $4.36

-1.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$12.68 $12.68

-5.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$10.41 $10.41

1.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$20.32 $20.32

-28.20%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.89 $4.89

3.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.45 $1.45

8.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.79 $3.79

15.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.40 $4.40

-7.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.38 $2.38

16.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.45 $2.45

15.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.02 $2.02

-2.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.30 $2.30

-3.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$9.84 $9.84

-11.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.04 $14.04

4.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.75 $1.75

33.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.80 $2.80

23.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.03 $2.03

-25.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.47 $3.47

24.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.81 $1.81

-0.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$28.73 $28.73

22.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.79 $0.79

1.27%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.6K $30.6K

-15.98%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.9K $25.9K

3.77%

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

$173 $173

$185 $185

-6.26%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$52.5 $52.5

11.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$69.1 $69.1

-2.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$44.94 $44.94

37.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

$5.02 $5.02

96.22%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.49 $13.49

9.71%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,214 $1,214

16.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$6,042 $6,042

266.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$53.2 $53.2

3.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$50.2 $50.2

-7.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$96.7 $96.7

-9.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$113 $113

5.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,159 $1,159

89.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,067 $1,067

33.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,236 $2,236

68.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$1,971 $1,971

37.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$2,457 $2,457

198.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,215 $2,215

41.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$4,064 $4,064

25.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.49

-0.62%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Albuquerque, NM: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,159 in Albuquerque, NM. 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 25% 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 $74.0 in Austin, TX versus $81.0 in Albuquerque, NM. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $376 vs $382 – 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

Austin, TX vs Albuquerque, NM: 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 $4,052 per month in Austin, TX and $3,434 in Albuquerque, NM. 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 $74.0 in Austin, TX and $81.0 in Albuquerque, NM. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% 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 $2,289, than in Austin, TX at $2,701. 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.