Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Khost

For one person, living is cheaper in Khost: $406 a month against $2,607 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $26,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX, United States
Khost, Afghanistan
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,607
/mo nomad
Khost
🇦🇫 Afghanistan
$406
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,607 in Austin, TX versus $406 in Khost.

  • Austin, TX $2,607
  • Khost $406

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,031 in Austin, TX versus $598 in Khost.

  • Austin, TX $4,031
  • Khost $598

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,454 in Austin, TX versus $789 in Khost.

  • Austin, TX $5,454
  • Khost $789

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 542% more expensive than in Khost, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 92% above, Khost is 70% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Khost
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.35 $20.35
$2.75 ؋178
640.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.7 $84.7
$7.61 ؋494
1013.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$4.55 ؋295
166.37%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.36 ؋153
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.81 ؋117
-
Cappuccino
$5.65 $5.65
$1.12 ؋72.5
404.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 $3.68
$0.49 ؋31.50
651.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$0.16 ؋10.08
1375.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.87 $7.87
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.82 $8.82
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Khost
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$0.86 ؋55.9
32.56%
White Bread (500g)
$3.69 $3.69
$0.25 ؋16.35
1376.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$1.81 ؋117
82.87%
Eggs
$4.15 $4.15
$1.51 ؋97.8
174.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.98 $12.98
$4.47 ؋290
190.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.86 $13.86
$4.03 ؋262
243.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.34 $16.34
$6.85 ؋445
138.54%
Apples (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$0.69 ؋44.78
579.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$0.84 ؋54.2
72.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.11 $5.11
$0.90 ؋58.2
467.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$0.54 ؋35.20
737.04%
Potato (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$0.60 ؋39.25
413.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 $2.38
$0.51 ؋33.04
366.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 $1.80
$0.30 ؋19.69
500.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.40 ؋25.89
455.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.87 ؋121
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.79 ؋51.4
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.04 ؋67.6
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97 $9.97
$2.43 ؋158
310.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.05 $15.05
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Khost
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 $1.22
$0.48 ؋31.04
154.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.53 $40.53
$18.66 ؋1,212
117.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 $2.78
$0.75 ؋48.84
270.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$0.44 ؋28.44
275.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.39 $35.39
$2.29 ؋149
1445.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.09 ؋70.9
-12.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K $34.2K
$8,296 ؋538.7K
312.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$34.1K ؋2.2M
-21.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Khost
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 $223
$42.62 ؋2,768
423.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.5 $58.5
$12.76 ؋829
358.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2 $71.2
$95.8 ؋6,223
-25.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Khost
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.0 $53.0
$7.80 ؋507
580.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.75 $16.75
$6.01 ؋390
178.70%
Cinema Ticket
$14.06 $14.06
$2.27 ؋148
519.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Khost
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,459 $1,459
$20.43 ؋1,327
7041.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.3K $21.3K
$1,054 ؋68.5K
1925.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Khost
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5 $52.5
$10.71 ؋696
390.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.75 $42.75
$15.69 ؋1,019
172.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.4 $86.4
$58.4 ؋3,795
47.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$25.17 ؋1,635
312.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Khost
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,112 $2,112
$30.85 ؋2,003
6745.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,230 $1,230
$15.63 ؋1,015
7772.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,863 $3,863
$76.5 ؋4,967
4950.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,407 $2,407
$46.93 ؋3,048
5028.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,426 $7,426
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,060 $3,060
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Khost
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,179 $5,179
$188 ؋12.2K
2662.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
10
-31.80%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Last update for Khost: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.2K
Khost
$16 98.7% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$410
Khost
$102 75.1% $308
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$353
Khost
$151 57.1% $201
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$348
Khost
$52 85.2% $297
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Khost
$50 61.5% $79
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$81
Khost
$12 84.8% $69
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$56
Khost
$24 58.3% $33

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,112 in Austin, TX and $31 in Khost. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays about 28 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $85 in Austin, TX vs $8 in Khost for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $410 vs $102 per month, with Khost cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇦🇫 Khost
🕒 Local time
04:18 4:18 AM
13:48 1:48 PM
9 h 30 min ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
11,987
Exchange rates and currency converter

AFN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

Afghanistan Afghani exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 64.94 AFN (100 AFN = 1.54 USD). 1 EUR = 72.27 AFN (100 AFN = 1.38 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Khost 12,820 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Khost

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 Khost: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Khost?
Khost wins on cost – living expenses run 84% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Khost the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Khost?
Average pay in Austin, TX is about 28 times higher, 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 Khost?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,112 in Austin, TX versus $31 in Khost. 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 Khost?
All in, you’ll spend $2,607 per month in Austin, TX versus $406 in Khost – a 542% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Khost?
A monthly transit pass in Khost runs roughly 54% 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 Khost?
At $406 in Khost versus $2,607 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Khost but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Khost the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for families?
For families, Khost is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Austin, TX, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Khost gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% 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

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?