Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Garissa

For one person, living is cheaper in Garissa: $381 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $27,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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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

$2,663

/mo nomad

Garissa

🇰🇪 Kenya

$381

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $381 in Garissa.

Austin, TX $2,663
Garissa $381

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $667 in Garissa.

Austin, TX $4,133
Garissa $667

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $952 in Garissa.

Austin, TX $5,603
Garissa $952

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 599% more expensive than in Garissa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Garissa is 72% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.77 $20.77

$11.79 KES 1,528

76.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$23.02 KES 2,984

267.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$7.73 KES 1,002

-27.17%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$1.88 KES 244

97.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.13 KES 147

121.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 $9.01

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$0.52 KES 66.9

115.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$0.59 KES 76.9

535.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.47 KES 191

121.77%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$1.92 KES 249

117.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$6.10 KES 791

132.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$5.39 KES 698

200.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$3.78 KES 490

14.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$3.11 KES 403

-53.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.69 KES 608

-3.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$0.79 KES 102

449.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.22 KES 158

111.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.57 KES 204

49.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.37 KES 307

-24.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.56 KES 72.3

296.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$5.71 KES 741

164.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.67 KES 217

74.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.82 KES 496

-9.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

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

$36.0K $36.0K

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

$27.1K $27.1K

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

$229 $229

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

$59.4 $59.4

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

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

$1,506 $1,506

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 $1,274

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 $2,538

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,614 $7,614

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,121 $5,121

$129 KES 16.8K

3861.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Garissa: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8%

Garissa

–

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$405 15.2%

Garissa

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$358 13.5%

Garissa

–

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$354 13.3%

Garissa

–

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

Garissa

–

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Garissa

–

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

Garissa

–

Cost Breakdown

Austin, TX pays 3861% 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 $23.00 in Garissa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $182 per month, with Garissa cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇰🇪 Garissa

🕒 Local time

09:53 9:53 AM

17:53 5:53 PM

8 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

119,696

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Kenyan Shilling KES Sh

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.889 EUR

1,000 KES = 7.71 USD

1,000 KES = 6.86 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

KES, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇰🇪 Kenyan Shilling (Sh)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

Kenyan Shilling exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 130 KES (1,000 KES = 7.71 USD). 1 EUR = 146 KES (1,000 KES = 6.86 EUR).

KES to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Austin, TX Garissa 14,430 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Garissa

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 Garissa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Garissa wins on cost – living expenses run 599% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Garissa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 3861% 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.

All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $381 in Garissa – a 599% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 122% higher in Austin, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $381 in Garissa versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Garissa but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Garissa 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 Garissa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 599% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.