Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Centurion

For one person, living is cheaper in Centurion: $1,377 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $15,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Centurion
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,377
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,377 in Centurion.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Centurion $1,377

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $2,224 in Centurion.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Centurion $2,224

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $3,071 in Centurion.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Centurion $3,071

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 93% more expensive than in Centurion, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 97% above, Centurion 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Centurion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$22.13 R 365
-6.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$40.73 R 671
107.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$5.76 R 95.0
113.89%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$2.57 R 42.33
119.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$0.94 R 15.52
295.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.87 R 14.35
187.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$2.10 R 34.57
283.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$2.45 R 40.42
267.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Centurion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.23 R 20.27
-8.94%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.22 R 20.11
207.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.17 R 35.83
50.23%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$3.07 R 50.6
35.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$9.79 R 161
31.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$6.92 R 114
104.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$7.29 R 120
122.50%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$1.82 R 29.92
137.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.80 R 29.64
-18.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.12 R 34.88
112.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$2.08 R 34.20
108.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.52 R 24.98
69.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.85 R 30.44
27.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.35 R 22.24
31.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.46 R 23.99
52.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$3.77 R 62.1
162.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$5.90 R 97.1
155.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.59 R 26.20
83.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.02 R 33.27
71.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Centurion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$2.47 R 40.75
-39.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$97.9 R 1,613
-57.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$1.22 R 20.14
123.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.23 R 20.20
34.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$8.89 R 146
297.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.50 R 24.75
-36.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$35.9K R 591.7K
0.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$32.1K R 528.7K
-15.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Centurion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$137 R 2,260
66.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$30.65 R 505
93.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$40.07 R 660
74.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Centurion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$43.79 R 721
30.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$10.73 R 177
33.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Centurion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$314 R 5,174
379.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$4,299 R 70.8K
399.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Centurion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$58.5 R 965
-9.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$43.75 R 721
0.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$117 R 1,925
-27.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$103 R 1,699
-0.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Centurion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$345 R 5,689
452.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$371 R 6,115
243.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$575 R 9,479
536.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$896 R 14.8K
183.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$518 R 8,536
1369.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$612 R 10.1K
415.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Centurion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$2,342 R 38.6K
118.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
10.5
-35.33%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Centurion: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Centurion
$371 70.9% $903
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Centurion
$225 44.4% $180
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Centurion
$208 42% $150
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Centurion
$248 30% $106
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Centurion
$145 13.3% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Centurion
$65 24% $21
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Centurion
$115 96.2% $56

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $345 in Centurion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 119% 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 $41.00 in Centurion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $225 per month, with Centurion cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇿🇦 Centurion
🕒 Local time
16:14 4:14 PM
23:14 11:14 PM
7 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
236,580
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 16.48 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.07 USD). 1 EUR = 18.52 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Centurion 14,730 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Centurion

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 Centurion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Centurion?
Centurion wins on cost – living expenses run 93% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Centurion the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Centurion?
Average pay runs 119% 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 Centurion?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $345 in Centurion. 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 Centurion?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,377 in Centurion – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Centurion?
A monthly transit pass in Centurion runs roughly 135% 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 $1,000/month in Austin, TX or in Centurion?
At $1,377 in Centurion versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Centurion but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Centurion the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Austin, TX or Centurion?
Both work as nomad bases, but Centurion delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,377 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Centurion hard to pass up.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Centurion?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Centurion 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 Centurion gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% 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?