Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lehliu Gara

For one person, living is cheaper in Lehliu Gara: $1,002 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $19,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Lehliu Gara
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,002
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Lehliu Gara

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,002 in Lehliu Gara.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Lehliu Gara $1,002

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,527 in Lehliu Gara.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Lehliu Gara $1,527

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,053 in Lehliu Gara.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Lehliu Gara $2,053

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 166% more expensive than in Lehliu Gara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Lehliu Gara is 26% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Lehliu Gara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$10.63 RON 50.3
95.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$42.81 RON 203
97.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$7.15 RON 33.81
72.31%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$2.54 RON 12.02
121.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.13 RON 10.07
74.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.81 RON 8.55
38.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$2.16 RON 10.22
272.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$3.09 RON 14.61
191.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Lehliu Gara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.22 RON 5.79
-8.20%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$0.66 RON 3.11
468.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.79 RON 8.46
82.12%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$3.38 RON 15.97
23.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$7.60 RON 35.97
69.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$5.76 RON 27.25
145.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$8.25 RON 39.04
96.61%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$1.29 RON 6.12
235.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.60 RON 7.56
-8.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.57 RON 7.42
187.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.83 RON 8.64
137.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$0.96 RON 4.56
168.75%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.05 RON 4.97
123.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$0.88 RON 4.16
102.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.73 RON 3.44
204.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$5.81 RON 27.51
70.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$5.30 RON 25.08
184.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$0.96 RON 4.52
204.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.18 RON 5.61
193.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Lehliu Gara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.71 RON 3.35
109.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$21.13 RON 100.0
97.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$0.62 RON 2.93
340.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.69 RON 3.25
140.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$6.98 RON 33.03
405.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.80 RON 8.51
-47.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$28.2K RON 133.3K
27.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$24.9K RON 117.7K
8.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Lehliu Gara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$151 RON 713
51.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$7.69 RON 36.36
672.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$7.83 RON 37.03
792.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Lehliu Gara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$37.18 RON 176
53.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$20.19 RON 95.6
-19.12%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$6.43 RON 30.42
122.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Lehliu Gara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$596 RON 2,821
152.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$4,986 RON 23.6K
330.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Lehliu Gara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$96.3 RON 456
-45.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$31.33 RON 148
39.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$61.7 RON 292
37.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$83.7 RON 396
23.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Lehliu Gara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$382 RON 1,806
399.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$283 RON 1,339
350.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$590 RON 2,792
521.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$444 RON 2,099
472.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$1,849 RON 8,746
311.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,340 RON 6,339
135.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Lehliu Gara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
7.2
-5.69%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Lehliu Gara: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Lehliu Gara
$283 77.8% $991
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Lehliu Gara
$182 55% $222
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Lehliu Gara
$166 53.6% $192
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Lehliu Gara
$170 52.1% $184
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Lehliu Gara
$123 4% $5.1
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Lehliu Gara
$50 41.7% $36
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Lehliu Gara
$28 52.3% $31

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $382 in Lehliu Gara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $43.00 in Lehliu Gara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $182 per month, with Lehliu Gara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇷🇴 Lehliu Gara
🕒 Local time
21:04 9:04 PM
05:04 5:04 AM
8 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
6,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RON, 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).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.32 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Lehliu Gara 9,990 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Lehliu Gara

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 Lehliu Gara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Lehliu Gara?
Lehliu Gara wins on cost – living expenses run 166% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lehliu Gara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Lehliu Gara?
You'd need roughly $3,995 in Austin, TX and $1,503 in Lehliu Gara 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 Lehliu Gara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $382 in Lehliu Gara. 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 Lehliu Gara?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,002 in Lehliu Gara – a 166% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Lehliu Gara?
A monthly transit pass in Lehliu Gara runs roughly 97% 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 Lehliu Gara?
At $1,002 in Lehliu Gara versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lehliu Gara but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lehliu Gara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Lehliu Gara?
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 Lehliu Gara?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Lehliu Gara 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 Lehliu Gara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 166% 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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