Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and China
For one person, living is cheaper in China: $784 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $23,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Austin, TX Living Index129Cost of Living Index in Austin, TXLearn more -
China Living Index39Cost of Living Index in ChinaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 131.4% more expensive than China without rent, and 245% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 140.4% more expensive than China without rent, and 217.4% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$2.90 ¥19.39
597.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.0 $85.0
$22.02 ¥147
286.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.35 $12.35
$5.20 ¥34.74
137.50%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$3.04 ¥20.31
79.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$0.52 ¥3.45
634.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.28 ¥1.85
792.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.06 $8.06
$1.01 ¥6.75
698.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.99 $8.99
$2.19 ¥14.64
310.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.75 ¥11.71
-35.43%
White Bread (500g)
$3.78 $3.78
$1.64 ¥10.96
130.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$0.92 ¥6.12
253.26%
Eggs
$4.14 $4.14
$1.59 ¥10.66
160.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.08 $13.08
$12.99 ¥86.8
0.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.31 $14.31
$3.35 ¥22.38
327.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.96 $15.96
$11.18 ¥74.7
42.75%
Apples (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$1.80 ¥12.02
143.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.31 ¥8.78
10.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$1.47 ¥9.80
208.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$1.32 ¥8.79
217.42%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$0.76 ¥5.07
246.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$0.92 ¥6.15
156.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.76 $1.76
$0.59 ¥3.94
198.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$0.54 ¥3.63
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.81 $9.81
$3.79 ¥25.34
158.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$12.14 ¥81.1
21.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$0.82 ¥5.48
239.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$1.63 ¥10.92
113.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.29 ¥1.93
413.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.51 $40.51
$22.33 ¥149
81.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$1.53 ¥10.24
74.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$0.35 ¥2.31
351.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.29 $35.29
$7.00 ¥46.79
404.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.31 ¥8.77
-24.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$19.0K ¥127.1K
88.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$17.0K ¥113.7K
59.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$54.1 ¥362
305.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.0 $58.0
$8.42 ¥56.3
588.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$10.72 ¥71.6
537.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.9 $57.9
$40.72 ¥272
42.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.82 $14.82
$14.58 ¥97.4
1.65%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13 $14.13
$6.76 ¥45.15
109.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,509 $1,509
$462 ¥3,089
226.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$19.6K ¥131.0K
9.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 $51.7
$45.57 ¥305
13.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.05 $44.05
$36.05 ¥241
22.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 $85.1
$75.4 ¥504
12.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$79.0 ¥528
33.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,932 $1,932
$386 ¥2,577
401.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 $1,272
$240 ¥1,601
431.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,670 $3,670
$843 ¥5,637
335.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,525 $2,525
$461 ¥3,083
447.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,617 $7,617
$4,590 ¥30.7K
65.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,199 $3,199
$2,279 ¥15.2K
40.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,105 $5,105
$1,060 ¥7,082
381.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
3.46
96.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026
Last update for China: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX $1.3K 48.2%
China $240 30.1% 81.2% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX $403 15.3%
China $207 26.1% 48.6% $196
Eating Out
Austin, TX $348 13.2%
China $88 11.1% 74.7% $260
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX $346 13.1%
China $73 9.2% 78.8% $272
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX $129 4.9%
China $106 13.4% 17.5% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX $86 3.3%
China $54 6.8% 37.1% $32
Getting Around
Austin, TX $57 2.2%
China $27 3.4% 53.1% $30
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX $2.5K 45.4%
China $461 26.9% 81.7% $2.1K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX $920 16.6%
China $477 27.8% 48.2% $444
Eating Out
Austin, TX $1.1K 20.2%
China $283 16.5% 74.8% $838
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX $404 7.3%
China $82 4.8% 79.8% $322
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX $286 5.2%
China $236 13.8% 17.5% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX $187 3.4%
China $123 7.2% 34.2% $64
Getting Around
Austin, TX $117 2.1%
China $54 3.2% 53.8% $63
Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇨🇳 China
Weather
Population
974,447
1,442,965,000
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Austin, TX China 11,450 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
- Austin, TX
- China
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,744
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$5,142
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,169
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Los Angeles, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$4,259
/mo nomad
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