Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Kegalle

For one person, living is cheaper in Kegalle: $594 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $24,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Kegalle
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$594
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $594 in Kegalle.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Kegalle $594

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $865 in Kegalle.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Kegalle $865

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $1,136 in Kegalle.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Kegalle $1,136

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 348% more expensive than in Kegalle, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Kegalle is 56% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Kegalle
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$3.05 LKR 1,009
580.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$24.54 LKR 8,130
244.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$7.47 LKR 2,474
64.93%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$2.44 LKR 810
130.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$0.47 LKR 155
691.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.27 LKR 90.0
825.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$2.23 LKR 738
260.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$3.06 LKR 1,014
194.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Kegalle
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.56 LKR 515
-28.21%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$0.47 LKR 155
697.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$0.67 LKR 224
386.57%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$1.60 LKR 528
160.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$14.02 LKR 4,643
-7.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$4.83 LKR 1,599
193.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$7.37 LKR 2,440
120.08%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$6.08 LKR 2,013
-28.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$0.81 LKR 270
80.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.35 LKR 1,442
3.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.23 LKR 409
252.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$0.87 LKR 289
196.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.77 LKR 254
205.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$0.37 LKR 123
381.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.43 LKR 142
416.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$9.79 LKR 3,242
0.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$12.70 LKR 4,208
18.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.95 LKR 646
49.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.68 LKR 889
29.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Kegalle
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.59 LKR 194
152.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$7.43 LKR 2,461
461.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$0.35 LKR 115
680.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.35 LKR 114
374.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$0.87 LKR 287
3957.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.37 LKR 455
-30.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$37.3K LKR 12.4M
-3.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$36.8K LKR 12.2M
-26.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Kegalle
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$59.7 LKR 19.8K
283.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$4.31 LKR 1,428
1277.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$21.15 LKR 7,005
230.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Kegalle
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$19.26 LKR 6,381
197.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$15.06 LKR 4,988
8.43%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$4.48 LKR 1,485
218.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Kegalle
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$38.17 LKR 12.6K
3845.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$1,222 LKR 404.7K
1656.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Kegalle
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$18.04 LKR 5,976
192.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$15.02 LKR 4,975
191.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$45.07 LKR 14.9K
88.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$41.44 LKR 13.7K
148.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Kegalle
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$119 LKR 39.4K
1503.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$91.2 LKR 30.2K
1296.41%
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
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Kegalle
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$181 LKR 59.9K
2731.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
12.69
-46.49%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Kegalle: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Kegalle
$91 92.8% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Kegalle
$228 43.7% $177
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Kegalle
$85 76.2% $273
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Kegalle
$96 72.8% $258
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Kegalle
$54 58% $74
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Kegalle
$28 67.1% $58
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Kegalle
$12 79.8% $47

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $119 in Kegalle. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 2732% 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 $25.00 in Kegalle for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $228 per month, with Kegalle cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇱🇰 Kegalle
🕒 Local time
11:51 11:51 AM
22:21 10:21 PM
10 h 30 min ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
17,900
Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, 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).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 331 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.02 USD). 1 EUR = 372 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Kegalle 15,840 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Kegalle

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 Kegalle: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Kegalle?
Kegalle wins on cost – living expenses run 348% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kegalle the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Kegalle?
Average pay runs 2732% 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 Kegalle?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $119 in Kegalle. 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 Kegalle?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $594 in Kegalle – a 348% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Kegalle?
A monthly transit pass in Kegalle runs roughly 462% 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 $1,000/month in Austin, TX or in Kegalle?
At $594 in Kegalle versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kegalle but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Kegalle the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Kegalle?
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 Kegalle?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Kegalle 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 Kegalle gentler on the wallet – expenses run 348% 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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