Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Chuzhou

For one person, living is cheaper in Chuzhou: $685 a month against $2,607 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $23,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX, United States
Chuzhou, China
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,607
/mo nomad
Chuzhou
🇨🇳 China
$685
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,607 in Austin, TX versus $685 in Chuzhou.

  • Austin, TX $2,607
  • Chuzhou $685

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,031 in Austin, TX versus $1,120 in Chuzhou.

  • Austin, TX $4,031
  • Chuzhou $1,120

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,454 in Austin, TX versus $1,555 in Chuzhou.

  • Austin, TX $5,454
  • Chuzhou $1,555

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 281% more expensive than in Chuzhou, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 92% above, Chuzhou is 50% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Chuzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.35 $20.35
$2.28 ¥15.15
792.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.7 $84.7
$22.28 ¥148
280.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$4.76 ¥31.65
154.62%
Cappuccino
$5.65 $5.65
$2.30 ¥15.31
145.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 $3.68
$0.53 ¥3.54
594.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$0.27 ¥1.80
774.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.87 $7.87
$0.44 ¥2.90
1688.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.82 $8.82
$1.54 ¥10.23
472.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Chuzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.54 ¥10.28
-25.97%
White Bread (500g)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.07 ¥13.75
78.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$0.84 ¥5.57
294.05%
Eggs
$4.15 $4.15
$1.32 ¥8.80
214.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.98 $12.98
$10.57 ¥70.3
22.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.86 $13.86
$3.03 ¥20.15
357.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.34 $16.34
$9.07 ¥60.4
80.15%
Apples (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$2.09 ¥13.88
124.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.26 ¥8.36
15.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.11 $5.11
$1.71 ¥11.39
198.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$1.07 ¥7.15
322.43%
Potato (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$0.90 ¥5.96
242.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 $2.38
$0.97 ¥6.47
145.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 $1.80
$0.89 ¥5.92
102.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.52 ¥3.46
326.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97 $9.97
$3.83 ¥25.51
160.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.05 $15.05
$13.28 ¥88.4
13.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
$0.95 ¥6.31
206.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$1.55 ¥10.34
114.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Chuzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 $1.22
$0.31 ¥2.08
293.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.53 $40.53
$19.20 ¥128
111.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.75 ¥11.66
58.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$0.41 ¥2.75
302.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.39 $35.39
$9.09 ¥60.5
289.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.32 ¥8.77
-28.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K $34.2K
$19.3K ¥128.5K
77.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$17.4K ¥115.5K
54.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Chuzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 $223
$55.5 ¥369
301.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.5 $58.5
$7.88 ¥52.4
642.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2 $71.2
$7.28 ¥48.43
877.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Chuzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.0 $53.0
$43.09 ¥287
23.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.75 $16.75
$16.05 ¥107
4.36%
Cinema Ticket
$14.06 $14.06
$6.07 ¥40.41
131.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Chuzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,459 $1,459
$441 ¥2,932
231.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.3K $21.3K
$22.8K ¥151.9K
-6.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Chuzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5 $52.5
$43.42 ¥289
20.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.75 $42.75
$34.55 ¥230
23.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.4 $86.4
$64.8 ¥431
33.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$87.6 ¥583
18.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Chuzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,112 $2,112
$253 ¥1,683
735.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,230 $1,230
$165 ¥1,095
647.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,863 $3,863
$606 ¥4,032
537.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,407 $2,407
$376 ¥2,503
539.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,426 $7,426
$3,018 ¥20.1K
146.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,060 $3,060
$1,996 ¥13.3K
53.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Chuzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,179 $5,179
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
3.42
99.42%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chuzhou: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.2K
Chuzhou
$165 86.6% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$410
Chuzhou
$198 51.7% $212
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$353
Chuzhou
$71 80% $282
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$348
Chuzhou
$69 80.3% $280
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Chuzhou
$104 19.3% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$81
Chuzhou
$55 31.9% $26
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$56
Chuzhou
$24 57% $32

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,112 in Austin, TX and $253 in Chuzhou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85 in Austin, TX vs $22 in Chuzhou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $410 vs $198 per month, with Chuzhou cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇨🇳 Chuzhou
🕒 Local time
11:41 11:41 AM
00:41 12:41 AM
13 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
3,987,054
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 6.65 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.41 CNY (1 CNY = 0.135 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Chuzhou 12,090 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Chuzhou

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 Chuzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Chuzhou?
Chuzhou wins on cost – living expenses run 74% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Chuzhou the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Chuzhou?
You’d need roughly $3,911 in Austin, TX and $1,027 in Chuzhou 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 Chuzhou?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,112 in Austin, TX versus $253 in Chuzhou. 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 Chuzhou?
All in, you’ll spend $2,607 per month in Austin, TX versus $685 in Chuzhou – a 281% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Chuzhou?
A monthly transit pass in Chuzhou runs roughly 53% 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 $800/month in Austin, TX or in Chuzhou?
At $685 in Chuzhou versus $2,607 in Austin, TX, a $800 budget is realistic in Chuzhou but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Chuzhou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for families?
For families, Chuzhou is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Austin, TX, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Chuzhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% 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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