Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Chanthaburi

For one person, living is cheaper in Chanthaburi: $965 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $20,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Chanthaburi
🇹🇭 Thailand
$965
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $965 in Chanthaburi.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Chanthaburi $965

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,594 in Chanthaburi.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Chanthaburi $1,594

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,224 in Chanthaburi.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Chanthaburi $2,224

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 176% more expensive than in Chanthaburi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Chanthaburi is 29% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Chanthaburi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$1.18 ฿39.32
1660.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$35.45 ฿1,185
138.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$7.15 ฿239
72.31%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$1.52 ฿50.8
270.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$0.52 ฿17.25
615.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.29 ฿9.60
762.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$1.67 ฿55.8
382.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$4.40 ฿147
104.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Chanthaburi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.52 ฿51.0
-26.32%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.47 ฿48.97
155.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$0.87 ฿29.09
274.71%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$2.05 ฿68.7
103.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$17.05 ฿570
-24.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$3.69 ฿123
283.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$13.08 ฿437
24.01%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$3.92 ฿131
10.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.80 ฿60.1
-18.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.81 ฿93.9
60.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.90 ฿63.3
128.42%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.17 ฿39.14
120.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.56 ฿52.2
50.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.24 ฿41.41
43.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.54 ฿18.21
311.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$4.50 ฿150
119.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$14.75 ฿493
2.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.71 ฿57.1
70.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$3.29 ฿110
5.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Chanthaburi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.87 ฿29.23
71.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$88.7 ฿2,964
-52.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$1.01 ฿33.74
170.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.06 ฿35.26
56.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$5.87 ฿196
501.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.20 ฿40.01
-20.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$31.1K ฿1.0M
16.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$23.3K ฿779.2K
16.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Chanthaburi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$106 ฿3,547
115.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$3.58 ฿120
1558.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$10.22 ฿342
584.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Chanthaburi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$46.50 ฿1,554
23.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$14.30 ฿478
14.20%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$5.30 ฿177
169.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Chanthaburi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$578 ฿19.3K
160.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$16.6K ฿555.3K
29.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Chanthaburi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$7.38 ฿247
615.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$35.89 ฿1,199
22.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$67.6 ฿2,260
25.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$20.82 ฿696
394.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Chanthaburi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$440 ฿14.7K
333.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$296 ฿9,906
329.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,368 ฿45.7K
167.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$727 ฿24.3K
248.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$1,912 ฿63.9K
298.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,552 ฿51.9K
103.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Chanthaburi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
5.25
29.33%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Chanthaburi: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Chanthaburi
$296 76.7% $978
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Chanthaburi
$264 34.7% $140
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Chanthaburi
$120 66.5% $238
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Chanthaburi
$69 80.4% $284
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Chanthaburi
$59 53.7% $69
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Chanthaburi
$57 33.4% $29
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Chanthaburi
$98 67.8% $40

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $440 in Chanthaburi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $35.00 in Chanthaburi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $264 per month, with Chanthaburi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇹🇭 Chanthaburi
🕒 Local time
19:01 7:01 PM
07:01 7:01 AM
12 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
27,602
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Chanthaburi 14,800 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Chanthaburi

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 Chanthaburi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Chanthaburi?
Chanthaburi wins on cost – living expenses run 176% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chanthaburi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Chanthaburi?
You'd need roughly $3,995 in Austin, TX and $1,447 in Chanthaburi 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 Chanthaburi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $440 in Chanthaburi. 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 Chanthaburi?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $965 in Chanthaburi – a 176% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Chanthaburi?
A monthly transit pass in Chanthaburi runs roughly 113% 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 $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Chanthaburi?
At $965 in Chanthaburi versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Chanthaburi but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Chanthaburi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Chanthaburi?
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 Chanthaburi?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Chanthaburi 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 Chanthaburi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 176% 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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