Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Brownsville, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Brownsville, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Austin, TX versus $1,884 in Brownsville, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $2,653 in Brownsville, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,546 in Austin, TX versus $3,423 in Brownsville, TX.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 41% more expensive than Brownsville, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Brownsville, TX 41% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.85 $19.85

$10.07 $10.07

97.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$55.1 $55.1

35.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$11.93 $11.93

-15.93%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$5.09 $5.09

8.45%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.02 $2.02

37.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.98 $1.98

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.62 $5.62

7.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 $7.81

$7.40 $7.40

5.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.89 $0.89

26.97%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.20 $2.20

56.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.17 $2.17

57.60%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$2.87 $2.87

52.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$9.49 $9.49

28.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 $10.79

$11.45 $11.45

-5.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 $14.36

$9.63 $9.63

49.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$2.61 $2.61

91.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.56 $1.56

-3.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$1.60 $1.60

173.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$1.97 $1.97

101.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$5.65 $5.65

-51.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.12 $1.12

147.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.01 $1.01

96.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.02 $1.02

123.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.74 $8.74

$9.33 $9.33

-6.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$14.89 $14.89

-0.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.76 $1.76

28.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$4.92 $4.92

-27.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.04 $2.04

-24.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.09 $43.09

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 $4.45

$3.55 $3.55

25.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.59 $1.59

13.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$29.51 $29.51

19.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.73 $0.73

1.37%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$29.4K $29.4K

-13.14%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.4K $25.4K

4.02%

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

$170 $170

$338 $338

-49.74%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$75.7 $75.7

-20.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$75.8 $75.8

-11.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 $61.6

$49.12 $49.12

25.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$14.59 $14.59

3.77%

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

$1,381 $1,381

$590 $590

134.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.2K $23.2K

-6.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$51.2 $51.2

11.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.94 $45.94

$40.44 $40.44

13.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$85.8 $85.8

0.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$114 $114

5.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$775 $775

181.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 $1,417

$672 $672

110.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,801 $3,801

$933 $933

307.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,711 $2,711

$955 $955

183.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,204 $7,204

$1,889 $1,889

281.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,239 $3,239

$1,827 $1,827

77.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,914 $4,914

$3,260 $3,260

50.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

5.47

17.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 27, 2026

Last update for Brownsville, TX: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,183 in Austin, TX and $775 in Brownsville, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 51% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $55.0 in Brownsville, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $288 per month, with Brownsville, TX cheaper across the board.

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 Brownsville, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brownsville, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Brownsville, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 51% more on average, 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: $2,183 in Austin, TX versus $775 in Brownsville, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,381 in Austin, TX versus $590 in Brownsville, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Brownsville, TX – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,884 in Brownsville, TX versus $2,657 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Brownsville, TX but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Brownsville, TX 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 Brownsville, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.