Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Baoji

For one person, living is cheaper in Baoji: $756 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $22,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Baoji
🇨🇳 China
$756
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $756 in Baoji.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Baoji $756

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,139 in Baoji.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Baoji $1,139

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $1,521 in Baoji.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Baoji $1,521

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 252% more expensive than in Baoji, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Baoji is 44% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Baoji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$2.74 ¥18.33
658.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$11.92 ¥79.7
609.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$4.46 ¥29.83
176.23%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$2.17 ¥14.54
159.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$0.29 ¥1.92
1182.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.27 ¥1.80
825.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$1.45 ¥9.72
455.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$1.46 ¥9.80
517.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Baoji
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.48 ¥9.88
-24.32%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.75 ¥11.71
114.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$0.91 ¥6.08
258.24%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$0.86 ¥5.74
384.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$11.71 ¥78.3
10.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$3.96 ¥26.51
257.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$10.58 ¥70.7
53.31%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$1.67 ¥11.17
159.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.11 ¥7.44
31.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.24 ¥8.28
263.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.27 ¥8.52
241.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$0.63 ¥4.23
309.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.70 ¥4.68
235.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$0.62 ¥4.17
187.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.54 ¥3.64
311.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$3.44 ¥23.00
187.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$9.75 ¥65.2
54.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$0.76 ¥5.10
284.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.75 ¥11.73
97.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Baoji
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.29 ¥1.95
413.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$16.56 ¥111
151.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$1.29 ¥8.62
111.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.29 ¥1.92
472.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$4.52 ¥30.19
680.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.37 ¥9.16
-30.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$19.3K ¥129.4K
86.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$17.5K ¥117.1K
54.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Baoji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$90.2 ¥603
153.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$6.31 ¥42.18
841.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$10.84 ¥72.5
544.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Baoji
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$46.46 ¥311
23.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$13.18 ¥88.1
23.90%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$5.81 ¥38.82
145.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Baoji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$701 ¥4,686
114.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$17.5K ¥117.2K
22.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Baoji
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$39.43 ¥264
33.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$37.67 ¥252
16.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$74.2 ¥496
14.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$91.5 ¥612
12.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Baoji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$278 ¥1,858
586.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$196 ¥1,311
550.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$629 ¥4,209
482.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$350 ¥2,337
626.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$3,178 ¥21.3K
139.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,815 ¥12.1K
73.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Baoji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
3.35
102.69%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Baoji: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Baoji
$196 84.6% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Baoji
$192 52.7% $213
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Baoji
$107 70% $251
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Baoji
$74 79.1% $280
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Baoji
$109 14.7% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Baoji
$58 32.3% $28
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Baoji
$20 65.2% $38

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $278 in Baoji. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $12.00 in Baoji for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $192 per month, with Baoji cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇨🇳 Baoji
🕒 Local time
03:08 3:08 AM
16:08 4:08 PM
13 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
1,438,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.893 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.49 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Baoji 12,370 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Baoji

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 Baoji: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Baoji?
Baoji wins on cost – living expenses run 252% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baoji the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Baoji?
You'd need roughly $3,995 in Austin, TX and $1,135 in Baoji to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Baoji?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $278 in Baoji. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Baoji?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $756 in Baoji – a 252% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Baoji?
A monthly transit pass in Baoji runs roughly 152% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Austin, TX or in Baoji?
At $756 in Baoji versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Baoji but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Baoji the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Baoji?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Baoji gentler on the wallet – expenses run 252% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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