Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Arak

For one person, living is cheaper in Arak: $482 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $26,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
24

Cost of Living Index in Arak
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Arak Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Arak

🇮🇷 Iran

$482

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Arak

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 Arak actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $482 in Arak.

Austin, TX $2,663
Arak $482

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $758 in Arak.

Austin, TX $4,133
Arak $758

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $1,034 in Arak.

Austin, TX $5,603
Arak $1,034

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 452% more expensive than in Arak, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Arak is 64% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.77 $20.77

$3.71 $3.71

459.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$12.65 $12.65

568.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$4.09 $4.09

201.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.68 $0.68

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 $0.56

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$1.36 $1.36

313.97%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$0.48 $0.48

675.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.73 $1.73

44.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 $9.01

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$0.55 $0.55

103.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$0.57 $0.57

557.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.90 $1.90

71.58%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$1.22 $1.22

241.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

$2.16 $2.16

497.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$2.56 $2.56

453.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$10.32 $10.32

57.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$0.79 $0.79

448.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.02 $1.02

43.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$0.63 $0.63

615.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$0.51 $0.51

750.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$0.44 $0.44

486.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.41 $0.41

473.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$0.48 $0.48

270.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.30 $0.30

640.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.83 $0.83

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

$2.54 $2.54

288.98%

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

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$0.10 $0.10

1390.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

$9.52 $9.52

338.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$0.25 $0.25

992.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.12 $0.12

1283.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$1.03 $1.03

3327.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.09 $0.09

955.56%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$49.8K $49.8K

-27.61%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$34.4K $34.4K

-21.19%

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

$229 $229

$9.84 $9.84

2227.13%

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

$59.4 $59.4

$1.49 $1.49

3885.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$3.75 $3.75

1764.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

$9.87 $9.87

479.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

$24.01 $24.01

-31.99%

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

$1.12 $1.12

1175.00%

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

$1,506 $1,506

$83.5 $83.5

1703.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

$2,319 $2,319

825.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$13.43 $13.43

293.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

$8.95 $8.95

389.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$80.9 $80.9

4.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$51.4 $51.4

100.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$295 $295

546.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 $1,274

$211 $211

504.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$806 $806

354.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 $2,538

$359 $359

607.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,614 $7,614

$1,354 $1,354

462.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

$656 $656

381.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,121 $5,121

$368 $368

1291.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

18.5

-63.30%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Arak: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8%

Arak

$211 43.7% 83.5% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$405 15.2%

Arak

$97 20.1% 76.1% $308

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$358 13.5%

Arak

$15 3.1% 95.8% $343

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$354 13.3%

Arak

$67 13.9% 81.1% $287

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

Arak

$70 14.4% 45.6% $58

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Arak

$12 2.5% 85.9% $74

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

Arak

$11 2.2% 81.6% $48

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $295 in Arak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 1292% 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $13.00 in Arak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $97.0 per month, with Arak cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇮🇷 Arak

🕒 Local time

23:34 11:34 PM

08:04 8:04 AM

8 h 30 min ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

526,200

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.888 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Austin, TX Arak 12,080 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Arak

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 Arak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arak is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 452% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 1292% 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: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $295 in Arak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $482 in Arak – a 452% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Arak runs roughly 338% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $482 in Arak versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Arak but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Arak 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Arak are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Arak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 452% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.