Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and El Congo

For one person, living is cheaper in El Congo: $576 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $25,500 less a year.

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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

El Congo

🇸🇻 El Salvador

$576

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in El Congo

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $576 in El Congo.

Austin, TX $2,704
El Congo $576

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $598 in El Congo.

Austin, TX $4,133
El Congo $598

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in Austin, TX versus $621 in El Congo.

Austin, TX $5,562
El Congo $621

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 369% more expensive than in El Congo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 102% above, El Congo is 57% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.0 $85.0

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.35 $12.35

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

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

$3.82 $3.82

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 $8.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.99 $8.99

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

Eggs

$4.14 $4.14

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.08 $13.08

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.31 $14.31

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.96 $15.96

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

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

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

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

$58.0 $58.0

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.4 $68.4

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.9 $57.9

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

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

$706 $706

173.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 $1,272

$570 $570

123.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,670 $3,670

$964 $964

280.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,525 $2,525

$626 $626

303.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,617 $7,617

$4,281 $4,281

77.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,199 $3,199

$1,283 $1,283

149.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,105 $5,105

$964 $964

429.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

5.72

18.71%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for El Congo: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.2%

El Congo

–

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$403 15.3%

El Congo

–

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$348 13.2%

El Congo

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$346 13.1%

El Congo

–

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$129 4.9%

El Congo

–

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.3%

El Congo

–

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$57 2.2%

El Congo

–

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,932 in Austin, TX and $706 in El Congo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 430% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇸🇻 El Congo

🕒 Local time

02:16 2:16 AM

01:16 1:16 AM

1 h behind Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

8,905

💱 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 El Congo 2,010 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
El Congo

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 El Congo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Congo wins on cost – living expenses run 369% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making El Congo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 430% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,932 in Austin, TX versus $706 in El Congo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

At $576 in El Congo versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in El Congo but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes El Congo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find El Congo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 369% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.