Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Cuiaba

For one person, living is cheaper in Cuiaba: $1,081 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $19,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Cuiaba
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,081
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $1,081 in Cuiaba.

  • Austin, TX $2,704
  • Cuiaba $1,081

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,618 in Cuiaba.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Cuiaba $1,618

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in Austin, TX versus $2,155 in Cuiaba.

  • Austin, TX $5,562
  • Cuiaba $2,155

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 150% more expensive than in Cuiaba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 102% above, Cuiaba is 19% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Cuiaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$5.03 R$25.12
301.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.0 $85.0
$35.60 R$178
138.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.35 $12.35
$7.90 R$39.43
56.33%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$1.85 R$9.21
195.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$1.48 R$7.37
158.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.78 R$3.89
220.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.06 $8.06
$2.03 R$10.15
297.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.99 $8.99
$2.62 R$13.10
243.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Cuiaba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.23 R$6.14
-8.13%
White Bread (500g)
$3.78 $3.78
$1.60 R$7.98
136.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$1.91 R$9.55
70.16%
Eggs
$4.14 $4.14
$3.08 R$15.36
34.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.08 $13.08
$17.15 R$85.6
-23.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.31 $14.31
$4.82 R$24.04
196.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.96 $15.96
$11.36 R$56.7
40.49%
Apples (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$2.39 R$11.91
83.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$2.40 R$12.00
-39.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$2.50 R$12.49
81.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.01 R$15.02
39.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.55 R$12.72
3.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.11 R$10.51
11.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.65 R$8.23
6.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.43 R$7.15
51.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.81 $9.81
$2.29 R$11.45
328.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$11.63 R$58.1
26.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.07 R$10.31
34.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$3.06 R$15.28
13.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Cuiaba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.02 R$5.11
46.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.51 $40.51
$38.30 R$191
5.77%
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
$1.31 R$6.53
-24.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$29.9K R$149.2K
19.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$33.5K R$167.3K
-18.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Cuiaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$178 R$888
23.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.0 $58.0
$19.31 R$96.4
200.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$27.04 R$135
152.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Cuiaba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.9 $57.9
$26.15 R$131
121.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.82 $14.82
$19.84 R$99.0
-25.30%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13 $14.13
$6.17 R$30.80
129.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Cuiaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,509 $1,509
$432 R$2,158
249.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$9,696 R$48.4K
121.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Cuiaba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 $51.7
$76.8 R$383
-32.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.05 $44.05
$49.06 R$245
-10.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 $85.1
$155 R$775
-45.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$71.2 R$356
47.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Cuiaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,932 $1,932
$336 R$1,679
474.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 $1,272
$233 R$1,163
445.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,670 $3,670
$660 R$3,295
456.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,525 $2,525
$370 R$1,848
581.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,617 $7,617
$1,370 R$6,838
456.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,199 $3,199
$793 R$3,958
303.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Cuiaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,105 $5,105
$399 R$1,992
1178.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
16.1
-57.83%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for Cuiaba: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Cuiaba
$233 81.7% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$403
Cuiaba
$285 29.3% $118
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$348
Cuiaba
$111 68.2% $237
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$346
Cuiaba
$224 35.1% $121
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Cuiaba
$159 23.1% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Cuiaba
$38 55.3% $48
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$57
Cuiaba
$42 * 25.6% $15

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,932 in Austin, TX and $336 in Cuiaba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 1179% 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 $36.00 in Cuiaba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $285 per month, with Cuiaba cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇧🇷 Cuiaba
🕒 Local time
23:46 11:46 PM
00:46 12:46 AM
1 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
650,877
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.99 BRL (1 BRL = 0.2 USD). 1 EUR = 5.6 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Cuiaba 6,770 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Cuiaba

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 Cuiaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Cuiaba?
Cuiaba wins on cost – living expenses run 150% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cuiaba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Cuiaba?
Average pay runs 1179% 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 Cuiaba?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,932 in Austin, TX versus $336 in Cuiaba. 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 Cuiaba?
All in, you'll spend $2,704 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,081 in Cuiaba – a 150% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Cuiaba?
A monthly transit pass in Cuiaba runs roughly 6% 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 Cuiaba?
At $1,081 in Cuiaba versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cuiaba but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Cuiaba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Cuiaba?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cuiaba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 150% 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

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