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: $2,746 in Austin, TX versus $1,940 in Brownsville, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,137 in Austin, TX versus $2,662 in Brownsville, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,527 in Austin, TX versus $3,384 in Brownsville, TX.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 42% more expensive than in Brownsville, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 106% above, Brownsville, TX 46% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$10.08 $10.08

93.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 $74.3

$54.7 $54.7

35.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$12.18 $12.18

-18.56%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.98 $4.98

12.65%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$1.95 $1.95

34.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.02 $2.02

3.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$5.40 $5.40

9.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$7.71 $7.71

2.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.91 $0.91

20.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.20 $2.20

55.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$2.23 $2.23

49.33%

Eggs

$4.36 $4.36

$2.85 $2.85

52.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.20 $12.20

$9.12 $9.12

33.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.50 $10.50

$11.52 $11.52

-8.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$9.62 $9.62

51.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$2.56 $2.56

86.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.64 $1.64

-7.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$1.69 $1.69

172.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$1.92 $1.92

111.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$5.53 $5.53

-49.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.09 $1.09

159.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.01 $1.01

93.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$0.99 $0.99

126.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.08 $9.08

$9.35 $9.35

-2.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$14.59 $14.59

1.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.77 $1.77

30.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$5.11 $5.11

-33.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.96 $1.96

-21.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.27 $44.27

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 $4.27

$3.54 $3.54

20.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.66 $1.66

9.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.71 $34.71

$28.74 $28.74

20.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$0.72 $0.72

9.72%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$29.5K $29.5K

-11.81%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.54%

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

$174 $174

$344 $344

-49.32%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$73.6 $73.6

-20.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$77.5 $77.5

-13.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 $61.5

$50.6 $50.6

21.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.97 $9.97

Cinema Ticket

$15.29 $15.29

$14.25 $14.25

7.30%

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

$1,379 $1,379

$603 $603

128.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.9K $21.9K

$23.3K $23.3K

-5.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$51.4 $51.4

10.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.38 $46.38

$39.25 $39.25

18.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 $87.1

$88.3 $88.3

-1.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$114 $114

2.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,212 $2,212

$770 $770

187.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,441 $1,441

$682 $682

111.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,788 $3,788

$952 $952

297.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$969 $969

170.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,183 $7,183

$1,862 $1,862

285.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,138 $3,138

$1,853 $1,853

69.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,995 $4,995

$3,178 $3,178

57.19%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Brownsville, TX: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,212 in Austin, TX and $770 in Brownsville, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 57% 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 $377 vs $287 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 42% 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.

Average pay runs 57% 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: $2,212 in Austin, TX versus $770 in Brownsville, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,379 in Austin, TX versus $603 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 $1,940 in Brownsville, TX versus $2,746 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 42% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.