Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Kamakura

For one person, living is cheaper in Kamakura: $1,194 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $17,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Kamakura
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,194
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,194 in Kamakura.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Kamakura $1,194

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,888 in Kamakura.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Kamakura $1,888

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,582 in Kamakura.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Kamakura $2,582

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 123% more expensive than in Kamakura, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Kamakura is 12% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Kamakura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$6.34 ¥1,002
227.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$31.78 ¥5,020
166.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$4.98 ¥787
147.39%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$2.48 ¥392
127.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.08 ¥171
244.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.80 ¥127
212.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$2.57 ¥406
213.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$3.22 ¥509
179.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Kamakura
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.38 ¥219
-18.84%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.50 ¥237
150.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.67 ¥580
-11.17%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$1.99 ¥315
109.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$10.47 ¥1,654
23.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$6.18 ¥976
129.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$14.39 ¥2,274
12.72%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$5.61 ¥886
-22.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.69 ¥424
-45.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.89 ¥457
56.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$4.30 ¥679
0.93%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.50 ¥395
3.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.55 ¥403
-7.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.13 ¥179
57.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.76 ¥120
192.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$3.71 ¥587
166.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$6.44 ¥1,017
134.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.81 ¥286
61.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.04 ¥322
69.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Kamakura
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.50 ¥237
-0.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$56.5 ¥8,926
-26.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.08 ¥487
-11.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.76 ¥436
-39.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$15.85 ¥2,505
122.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.10 ¥173
-13.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$21.6K ¥3.4M
66.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$15.3K ¥2.4M
77.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Kamakura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$118 ¥18.6K
94.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$23.42 ¥3,700
153.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$31.10 ¥4,913
124.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Kamakura
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$52.8 ¥8,335
8.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$12.67 ¥2,001
12.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Kamakura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$584 ¥92.3K
157.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$14.8K ¥2.3M
45.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Kamakura
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$50.9 ¥8,044
3.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$35.32 ¥5,580
24.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$59.9 ¥9,456
41.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$97.5 ¥15.4K
5.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Kamakura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$568 ¥89.7K
235.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$346 ¥54.7K
268.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,212 ¥191.4K
202.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$748 ¥118.3K
239.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$4,369 ¥690.2K
74.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,979 ¥312.6K
59.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Kamakura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$1,785 ¥282.0K
186.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
2.02
236.14%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Kamakura: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Kamakura
$346 72.8% $928
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Kamakura
$286 29.2% $118
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Kamakura
$172 52% $186
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Kamakura
$122 65.5% $232
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Kamakura
$110 14.3% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Kamakura
$78 9% $7.7
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Kamakura
$79 35.3% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $568 in Kamakura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 187% 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 $32.00 in Kamakura for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $286 per month, with Kamakura cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇯🇵 Kamakura
🕒 Local time
20:23 8:23 PM
10:23 10:23 AM
14 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
172,710
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Kamakura 10,580 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Kamakura

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 Kamakura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Kamakura?
Kamakura wins on cost – living expenses run 123% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kamakura the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Kamakura?
Average pay runs 187% 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 Kamakura?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $568 in Kamakura. 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 Kamakura?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,194 in Kamakura – a 123% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Kamakura?
A monthly transit pass in Kamakura runs roughly 35% 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 $1,500/month in Austin, TX or in Kamakura?
At $1,194 in Kamakura versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kamakura but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Kamakura the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Kamakura?
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 Kamakura?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Kamakura 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 Kamakura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 123% 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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