Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Hermanus

For one person, living is cheaper in Hermanus: $1,118 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $18,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Hermanus
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,118
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,118 in Hermanus.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Hermanus $1,118

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,727 in Hermanus.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Hermanus $1,727

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,336 in Hermanus.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Hermanus $2,336

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 138% more expensive than in Hermanus, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Hermanus is 17% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Hermanus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$13.13 R 216
58.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$34.89 R 575
142.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$5.59 R 92.1
120.39%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$2.30 R 37.84
144.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.08 R 17.76
244.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.87 R 14.27
187.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$2.23 R 36.66
260.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$2.77 R 45.61
225.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Hermanus
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.19 R 19.66
-5.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.12 R 18.47
234.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.77 R 29.18
84.18%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$2.44 R 40.15
70.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$8.34 R 137
54.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$4.98 R 82.0
184.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$7.04 R 116
130.40%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$1.76 R 29.07
146.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.68 R 27.62
-13.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.79 R 29.42
151.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.71 R 28.10
153.80%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.47 R 24.14
75.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.43 R 23.63
64.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.20 R 19.78
48.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.17 R 19.28
89.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$3.34 R 55.1
195.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$7.06 R 116
113.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.45 R 23.81
101.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.95 R 32.12
77.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Hermanus
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.48 R 24.34
0.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$0.62 R 10.25
340.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.88 R 14.46
88.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$11.54 R 190
205.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.46 R 24.02
-34.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$36.0K R 593.0K
0.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$31.8K R 524.6K
-14.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Hermanus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$145 R 2,395
57.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$35.60 R 587
66.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$39.60 R 652
76.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Hermanus
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$21.12 R 348
171.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$13.86 R 228
17.82%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$6.19 R 102
130.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Hermanus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$245 R 4,032
515.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$5,463 R 90.0K
292.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Hermanus
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$52.2 R 860
1.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$32.45 R 535
35.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$101 R 1,658
-15.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$86.9 R 1,431
18.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Hermanus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$396 R 6,524
381.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$359 R 5,923
254.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$716 R 11.8K
411.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$717 R 11.8K
253.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$888 R 14.6K
757.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$659 R 10.9K
378.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Hermanus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
10.94
-37.93%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Hermanus: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Hermanus
$359 71.8% $915
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Hermanus
$197 51.3% $208
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Hermanus
$221 38.4% $138
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Hermanus
$174 50.9% $180
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Hermanus
$122 4.3% $5.5
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Hermanus
$34 61% $52
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Hermanus
$11 * 81.4% $48

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 $1,907 in Austin, TX and $396 in Hermanus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $35.00 in Hermanus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $197 per month, with Hermanus cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇿🇦 Hermanus
🕒 Local time
03:30 3:30 AM
10:30 10:30 AM
7 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
56,139
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 16.48 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.07 USD). 1 EUR = 18.52 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Hermanus 14,170 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Hermanus

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 Hermanus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Hermanus?
Hermanus wins on cost – living expenses run 138% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hermanus the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Hermanus?
You'd need roughly $3,995 in Austin, TX and $1,677 in Hermanus 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 Hermanus?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $396 in Hermanus. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Austin, TX and in Hermanus?
Childcare runs $1,506 in Austin, TX versus $245 in Hermanus. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Austin, TX and in Hermanus?
Dining out is cheaper in Hermanus – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Austin, TX or in Hermanus?
At $1,118 in Hermanus versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Hermanus but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Hermanus the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Hermanus?
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.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Hermanus?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Hermanus are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Hermanus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 138% 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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