Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Imus

For one person, living is cheaper in Imus: $647 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $24,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Imus
🇵🇭 Philippines
$647
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $647 in Imus.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Imus $647

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $965 in Imus.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Imus $965

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $1,283 in Imus.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Imus $1,283

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 311% more expensive than in Imus, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Imus is 52% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Imus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$3.96 ₱249
424.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$17.00 ₱1,070
397.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$2.85 ₱179
332.28%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$1.86 ₱117
202.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$0.56 ₱35.19
564.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.33 ₱20.78
657.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$1.02 ₱64.2
689.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$1.70 ₱107
430.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Imus
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.68 ₱106
-33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.13 ₱71.0
231.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.03 ₱64.7
216.50%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$2.08 ₱131
100.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$5.18 ₱326
149.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$3.33 ₱210
325.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$7.85 ₱494
106.62%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$2.27 ₱143
90.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.60 ₱101
-8.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.35 ₱148
91.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.78 ₱112
143.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.72 ₱108
50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.73 ₱109
35.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$0.66 ₱41.73
169.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.49 ₱31.10
353.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$3.14 ₱198
214.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$8.99 ₱566
67.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.13 ₱71.4
158.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.98 ₱125
74.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Imus
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.26 ₱16.16
473.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$10.94 ₱689
281.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$0.80 ₱50.2
241.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.23 ₱14.50
621.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$1.92 ₱121
1738.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.22 ₱76.7
-22.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$21.7K ₱1.4M
66.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$19.5K ₱1.2M
38.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Imus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$123 ₱7,715
86.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$15.62 ₱983
280.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$23.34 ₱1,469
199.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Imus
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$27.55 ₱1,735
107.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$5.07 ₱319
222.09%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$5.29 ₱333
169.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Imus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$134 ₱8,428
1025.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$8,820 ₱555.3K
143.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Imus
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$29.14 ₱1,834
81.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$19.72 ₱1,241
122.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$72.7 ₱4,574
16.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$54.8 ₱3,453
87.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Imus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$122 ₱7,660
1467.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$99.7 ₱6,274
1178.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$202 ₱12.7K
1714.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$166 ₱10.4K
1432.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$2,138 ₱134.6K
256.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,101 ₱69.3K
186.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Imus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$172 ₱10.8K
2885.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
6.75
0.59%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Imus: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Imus
$100 92.2% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Imus
$180 55.4% $224
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Imus
$161 54.9% $197
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Imus
$75 78.9% $279
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Imus
$79 38% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Imus
$38 55.6% $48
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Imus
$14 76.3% $45

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $122 in Imus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 2886% 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 $17.00 in Imus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $180 per month, with Imus cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇵🇭 Imus
🕒 Local time
13:02 1:02 PM
02:02 2:02 AM
13 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
496,794
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

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

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.79 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Imus 13,550 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Imus

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 Imus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Imus?
Imus wins on cost – living expenses run 311% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Imus the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Imus?
Average pay runs 2886% 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 Imus?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $122 in Imus. 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 Imus?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $647 in Imus – a 311% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Imus?
A monthly transit pass in Imus runs roughly 281% 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 $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Imus?
At $647 in Imus versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Imus but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Imus the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Imus?
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 Imus?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Imus 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 Imus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 311% 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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