Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Jingmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Jingmen: $749 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $23,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,698
/mo nomad
Jingmen
🇨🇳 China
$749
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $749 in Jingmen.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Jingmen $749

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,204 in Jingmen.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Jingmen $1,204

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $1,659 in Jingmen.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Jingmen $1,659

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 255% more expensive than in Jingmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Jingmen is 44% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Jingmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.63 $20.63
$3.07 ¥20.50
571.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$22.34 ¥149
278.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.07 $12.07
$3.99 ¥26.65
202.51%
Cappuccino
$5.48 $5.48
$2.15 ¥14.39
154.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 $3.80
$0.46 ¥3.10
726.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$0.29 ¥1.92
751.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$0.89 ¥5.94
804.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.88 $8.88
$1.02 ¥6.81
770.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Jingmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$2.09 ¥13.94
-46.89%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.87 ¥12.53
98.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$0.98 ¥6.56
243.88%
Eggs
$4.32 $4.32
$1.67 ¥11.15
158.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.13 $13.13
$13.43 ¥89.8
-2.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.15 $14.15
$3.55 ¥23.73
298.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.33 $16.33
$13.70 ¥91.6
19.20%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$2.27 ¥15.15
100.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.25 ¥8.34
16.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$1.46 ¥9.79
222.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$1.14 ¥7.65
264.04%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$0.77 ¥5.16
235.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.80 ¥5.35
193.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 $1.77
$0.38 ¥2.51
365.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$0.43 ¥2.91
397.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.10 $10.10
$6.63 ¥44.35
52.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.19 $15.19
$14.65 ¥97.9
3.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$0.78 ¥5.23
261.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.01 ¥13.44
71.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Jingmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.54 $1.54
$0.29 ¥1.91
431.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.99 $40.99
$17.74 ¥119
131.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.80 $2.80
$1.53 ¥10.25
83.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 $1.60
$0.29 ¥1.91
451.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.34 $34.34
$4.29 ¥28.65
700.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.08 ¥7.19
-12.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K $34.0K
$19.7K ¥131.9K
72.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$17.1K ¥114.0K
56.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Jingmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 $223
$57.7 ¥385
286.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$7.27 ¥48.60
710.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6 $70.6
$12.00 ¥80.2
488.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Jingmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 $57.7
$41.86 ¥280
37.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.53 $16.53
$14.89 ¥99.5
11.01%
Cinema Ticket
$14.26 $14.26
$5.30 ¥35.41
169.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Jingmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,511 $1,511
$385 ¥2,575
292.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K $20.9K
$12.1K ¥80.9K
72.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Jingmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
$55.3 ¥370
-7.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.17 $44.17
$33.22 ¥222
32.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.0 $87.0
$60.6 ¥405
43.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$113 ¥758
-7.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Jingmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,940 $1,940
$294 ¥1,963
560.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 $1,316
$181 ¥1,208
628.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$630 ¥4,212
481.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,565 $2,565
$370 ¥2,476
592.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,354 $7,354
$3,474 ¥23.2K
111.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,129 $3,129
$1,923 ¥12.9K
62.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Jingmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,286 $5,286
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
3.31
105.14%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Last update for Jingmen: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Jingmen
$181 86.3% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$406
Jingmen
$228 43.9% $178
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$352
Jingmen
$77 78.2% $275
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$350
Jingmen
$72 79.5% $278
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Jingmen
$118 8.5% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Jingmen
$52 39.2% $34
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$58
Jingmen
$22 62.3% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $294 in Jingmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $22.00 in Jingmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $228 per month, with Jingmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇨🇳 Jingmen
🕒 Local time
04:56 4:56 AM
17:56 5:56 PM
13 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
2,873,687
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Jingmen 12,500 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Jingmen

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 Jingmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Jingmen?
Jingmen wins on cost – living expenses run 255% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jingmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Jingmen?
You'd need roughly $3,995 in Austin, TX and $1,124 in Jingmen 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 Jingmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $294 in Jingmen. 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 Jingmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $749 in Jingmen – a 255% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Jingmen?
A monthly transit pass in Jingmen runs roughly 135% 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 Jingmen?
At $749 in Jingmen versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Jingmen but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Jingmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Jingmen?
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 Jingmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 255% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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