Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Cruz Bay

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,704 a month against $2,940 in Cruz Bay, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Cruz Bay outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

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Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,704

/mo nomad

Cruz Bay

🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands

$2,940

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Cruz Bay

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $2,940 in Cruz Bay.

Austin, TX $2,704
Cruz Bay $2,940

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $4,735 in Cruz Bay.

Austin, TX $4,133
Cruz Bay $4,735

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in Austin, TX versus $6,530 in Cruz Bay.

Austin, TX $5,562
Cruz Bay $6,530

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 8% less than in Cruz Bay, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Cruz Bay 119% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$29.40 $29.40

-31.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.0 $85.0

$92.2 $92.2

-7.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.35 $12.35

$16.78 $16.78

-26.40%

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

$9.25 $9.25

-40.86%

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

$3.82 $3.82

$2.96 $2.96

29.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$3.90 $3.90

-35.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 $8.06

$7.96 $7.96

1.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.99 $8.99

$9.16 $9.16

-1.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$8.23 $8.23

-86.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

Eggs

$4.14 $4.14

$4.93 $4.93

-16.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.08 $13.08

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.31 $14.31

$15.54 $15.54

-7.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.96 $15.96

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$8.57 $8.57

-48.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

Oranges (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 $2.36

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 $1.76

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.81 $9.81

Wine (Bottle)

$14.72 $14.72

$25.46 $25.46

-42.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.51 $40.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.29 $35.29

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

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

$35.8K $35.8K

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

$27.2K $27.2K

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

$219 $219

$357 $357

-38.55%

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

$58.0 $58.0

$141 $141

-58.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.4 $68.4

$59.6 $59.6

14.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.9 $57.9

$90.0 $90.0

-35.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.82 $14.82

Cinema Ticket

$14.13 $14.13

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

$1,509 $1,509

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

$13.2K $13.2K

62.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.05 $44.05

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 $85.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,932 $1,932

$1,799 $1,799

7.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 $1,272

$1,523 $1,523

-16.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,670 $3,670

$3,551 $3,551

3.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,525 $2,525

$3,454 $3,454

-26.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,617 $7,617

$10.9K $10.9K

-30.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,199 $3,199

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,105 $5,105

$6,136 $6,136

-16.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

35.80%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for Cruz Bay: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.2%

Cruz Bay

–

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$403 15.3%

Cruz Bay

–

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$348 13.2%

Cruz Bay

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$346 13.1%

Cruz Bay

–

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$129 4.9%

Cruz Bay

–

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.3%

Cruz Bay

–

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$57 2.2%

Cruz Bay

–

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,932 in Austin, TX and $1,799 in Cruz Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cruz Bay pays 20% 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 $92.0 in Cruz Bay. Groceries flip the comparison at $403 vs $274, with Cruz Bay cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇻🇮 Cruz Bay

🕒 Local time

09:17 9:17 AM

10:17 10:17 AM

1 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

2,743

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Austin, TX Cruz Bay 3,580 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Cruz Bay

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 Cruz Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Cruz Bay. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 20% lower in Cruz Bay. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,932 in Austin, TX versus $1,799 in Cruz Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,704 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,940 in Cruz Bay – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Cruz Bay pay roughly 47% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Cruz Bay are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Cruz Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.