Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Kelowna

For one person, living is cheaper in Kelowna: $2,351 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Kelowna
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,351
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $2,351 in Kelowna.

  • Austin, TX $2,704
  • Kelowna $2,351

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $3,444 in Kelowna.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Kelowna $3,444

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in Austin, TX versus $4,536 in Kelowna.

  • Austin, TX $5,562
  • Kelowna $4,536

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 15% more expensive than in Kelowna, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Kelowna 75% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Kelowna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$16.53 CA$23.56
22.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.0 $85.0
$58.2 CA$82.9
46.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.35 $12.35
$11.36 CA$16.19
8.71%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$3.91 CA$5.57
39.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$1.97 CA$2.80
93.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.70 CA$2.42
47.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.06 $8.06
$4.52 CA$6.44
78.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.99 $8.99
$5.64 CA$8.04
59.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Kelowna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.98 CA$2.82
-42.93%
White Bread (500g)
$3.78 $3.78
$2.74 CA$3.90
37.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$3.52 CA$5.02
-7.67%
Eggs
$4.14 $4.14
$3.14 CA$4.47
31.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.08 $13.08
$9.04 CA$12.89
44.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.31 $14.31
$13.07 CA$18.63
9.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.96 $15.96
$21.06 CA$30.03
-24.22%
Apples (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$3.34 CA$4.76
31.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.54 CA$2.20
-5.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$3.38 CA$4.82
34.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$4.76 CA$6.78
-11.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$3.04 CA$4.33
-13.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$3.11 CA$4.44
-24.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.51 CA$3.58
-29.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.87 CA$2.66
15.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.81 $9.81
$14.00 CA$19.96
-29.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$13.39 CA$19.08
9.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.58 CA$3.68
7.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$3.10 CA$4.42
12.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Kelowna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.72 CA$2.46
-13.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.51 $40.51
$48.15 CA$68.6
-15.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.79 CA$3.98
-4.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.71 CA$2.43
-7.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.29 $35.29
$33.36 CA$47.55
5.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.27 CA$1.82
-22.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$28.0K CA$39.9K
27.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$17.9K CA$25.5K
51.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Kelowna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$127 CA$181
72.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.0 $58.0
$44.36 CA$63.2
30.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$55.9 CA$79.7
22.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Kelowna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.9 $57.9
$55.1 CA$78.5
5.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.82 $14.82
$30.27 CA$43.14
-51.04%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13 $14.13
$11.71 CA$16.69
20.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Kelowna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,509 $1,509
$1,006 CA$1,433
50.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$15.9K CA$22.7K
34.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Kelowna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 $51.7
$47.17 CA$67.2
9.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.05 $44.05
$40.66 CA$58.0
8.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 $85.1
$83.3 CA$119
2.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$96.8 CA$138
8.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Kelowna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,932 $1,932
$1,353 CA$1,929
42.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 $1,272
$1,197 CA$1,707
6.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,670 $3,670
$2,267 CA$3,232
61.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,525 $2,525
$1,924 CA$2,742
31.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,617 $7,617
$3,893 CA$5,549
95.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,199 $3,199
$3,207 CA$4,571
-0.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Kelowna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,105 $5,105
$3,012 CA$4,294
69.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
4.69
44.78%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for Kelowna: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Kelowna
$1.2K 5.9% $75
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$403
Kelowna
$386 4.1% $16
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$348
Kelowna
$262 24.8% $86
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$346
Kelowna
$227 34.2% $118
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Kelowna
$121 6.4% $8.2
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Kelowna
$78 8.9% $7.7
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$57
Kelowna
$66 16.4% $9.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,932 in Austin, TX and $1,353 in Kelowna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 69% 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 $58.0 in Kelowna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $386 per month, with Kelowna cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇨🇦 Kelowna
🕒 Local time
06:18 6:18 AM
04:18 4:18 AM
2 h behind Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
144,576
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Kelowna 2,840 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Kelowna

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 Kelowna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Kelowna?
Kelowna wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kelowna the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Kelowna?
Average pay runs 69% 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 Kelowna?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,932 in Austin, TX versus $1,353 in Kelowna. 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 Kelowna?
All in, you'll spend $2,704 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,351 in Kelowna – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Kelowna?
A monthly transit pass in Kelowna runs roughly 19% 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 $3,000/month in Austin, TX or in Kelowna?
At $2,351 in Kelowna versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Kelowna but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Kelowna the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Austin, TX or Kelowna?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kelowna delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,351 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kelowna hard to pass up.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Kelowna?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Kelowna 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 Kelowna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% 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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