Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Bragadiru

For one person, living is cheaper in Bragadiru: $1,097 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $19,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,698
/mo nomad
Bragadiru
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,097
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,698 in Austin, TX versus $1,097 in Bragadiru.

  • Austin, TX $2,698
  • Bragadiru $1,097

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,160 in Austin, TX versus $1,706 in Bragadiru.

  • Austin, TX $4,160
  • Bragadiru $1,706

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,622 in Austin, TX versus $2,314 in Bragadiru.

  • Austin, TX $5,622
  • Bragadiru $2,314

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 146% more expensive than in Bragadiru, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 99% above, Bragadiru is 19% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Bragadiru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.63 $20.63
$12.56 RON 59.5
64.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$58.6 RON 277
44.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.07 $12.07
$7.34 RON 34.71
64.44%
Cappuccino
$5.48 $5.48
$3.20 RON 15.12
71.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 $3.80
$1.79 RON 8.48
112.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.28 RON 6.08
92.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$2.26 RON 10.69
256.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.88 $8.88
$3.14 RON 14.88
182.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Bragadiru
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.65 RON 7.81
-32.73%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.18 RON 5.59
215.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$1.66 RON 7.85
103.01%
Eggs
$4.32 $4.32
$3.07 RON 14.54
40.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.13 $13.13
$8.59 RON 40.64
52.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.15 $14.15
$6.95 RON 32.88
103.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.33 $16.33
$9.03 RON 42.74
80.84%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$1.25 RON 5.92
264.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.59 RON 7.51
-8.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$1.60 RON 7.59
194.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.55 RON 12.06
62.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$0.92 RON 4.36
180.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.92 RON 4.36
155.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.00 RON 4.73
77.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$0.98 RON 4.62
118.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.10 $10.10
$6.23 RON 29.47
62.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.19 $15.19
$6.30 RON 29.83
141.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.02 RON 4.82
176.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$1.78 RON 8.43
93.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Bragadiru
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.54 $1.54
$0.75 RON 3.56
105.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.99 $40.99
$21.73 RON 103
88.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.80 $2.80
$0.66 RON 3.13
324.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 $1.60
$0.65 RON 3.07
146.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.34 $34.34
$6.38 RON 30.17
438.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.85 RON 8.74
-49.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K $34.0K
$28.0K RON 132.7K
21.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$25.6K RON 121.0K
4.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Bragadiru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 $223
$167 RON 790
33.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$7.56 RON 35.75
679.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6 $70.6
$7.72 RON 36.52
814.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Bragadiru
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 $57.7
$43.43 RON 205
32.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.53 $16.53
$20.90 RON 98.9
-20.91%
Cinema Ticket
$14.26 $14.26
$6.77 RON 32.04
110.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Bragadiru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,511 $1,511
$572 RON 2,709
163.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K $20.9K
$6,994 RON 33.1K
198.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Bragadiru
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
$89.0 RON 421
-42.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.17 $44.17
$42.47 RON 201
4.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.0 $87.0
$87.0 RON 412
-0.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$87.2 RON 413
19.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Bragadiru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,940 $1,940
$380 RON 1,800
410.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 $1,316
$289 RON 1,369
354.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$589 RON 2,784
522.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,565 $2,565
$450 RON 2,128
470.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,354 $7,354
$1,871 RON 8,851
293.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,129 $3,129
$1,335 RON 6,316
134.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Bragadiru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,286 $5,286
$1,055 RON 4,992
401.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
6.75
0.59%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Last update for Bragadiru: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Bragadiru
$289 78% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$406
Bragadiru
$211 47.9% $195
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$352
Bragadiru
$182 48.2% $170
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$350
Bragadiru
$191 45.5% $159
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Bragadiru
$138 6.6% $8.5
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Bragadiru
$57 33.9% $29
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$58
Bragadiru
$29 50.6% $29

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,940 in Austin, TX and $380 in Bragadiru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 401% 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 $59.0 in Bragadiru for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $211 per month, with Bragadiru cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇷🇴 Bragadiru
🕒 Local time
11:54 11:54 AM
19:54 7:54 PM
8 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
15,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RON, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.32 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Bragadiru 9,950 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Bragadiru

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 Bragadiru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Bragadiru?
Bragadiru wins on cost – living expenses run 146% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bragadiru the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Bragadiru?
Average pay runs 401% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Bragadiru?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,940 in Austin, TX versus $380 in Bragadiru. 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 Bragadiru?
All in, you'll spend $2,698 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,097 in Bragadiru – a 146% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Bragadiru?
A monthly transit pass in Bragadiru runs roughly 89% 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 Bragadiru?
At $1,097 in Bragadiru versus $2,698 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bragadiru but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Bragadiru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Bragadiru?
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.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Bragadiru?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Bragadiru are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bragadiru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 146% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?