Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Los Alamos, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Los Alamos, NM

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,500 in Los Alamos, NM.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,623 in Los Alamos, NM.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,747 in Los Alamos, NM.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 6% more expensive than Los Alamos, NM, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Los Alamos, NM 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$17.21 $17.21

14.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$58.9 $58.9

27.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.11 $10.11

-1.88%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.34 $5.34

6.18%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.28 $2.28

21.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.46 $1.46

48.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.94 $5.94

-1.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$5.85 $5.85

32.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.88 $0.88

23.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.25 $2.25

51.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.22 $3.22

6.52%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.11 $4.11

6.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$12.61 $12.61

-5.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$10.18 $10.18

5.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$17.60 $17.60

-18.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.75 $4.75

1.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.39 $1.39

11.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.01 $3.01

48.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.38 $4.38

-10.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.13 $1.13

142.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.44 $2.44

12.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.93 $1.93

5.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$0.48 $0.48

368.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$9.89 $9.89

-9.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$13.93 $13.93

6.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.79 $1.79

31.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.77 $2.77

28.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.05 $2.05

-28.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.39 $3.39

26.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.88 $1.88

-2.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$28.95 $28.95

22.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.79 $0.79

-8.86%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$31.3K $31.3K

-17.79%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.47%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$174 $174

$170 $170

2.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$40.70 $40.70

48.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$68.7 $68.7

-3.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.60 $43.60

43.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$13.98 $13.98

9.01%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,387 $1,387

$1,222 $1,222

13.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$5,997 $5,997

269.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$20.18 $20.18

181.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$50.4 $50.4

-10.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$96.1 $96.1

-10.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$113 $113

5.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,110 $1,110

102.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,359 $1,359

5.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,918 $1,918

96.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,259 $2,259

16.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$3,375 $3,375

108.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$3,377 $3,377

-6.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$8,240 $8,240

-38.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.49

-0.62%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Los Alamos, NM: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,110 in Los Alamos, NM. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Los Alamos, NM pays 61% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $59.0 in Los Alamos, NM for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $332 per month, with Los Alamos, NM cheaper across the board.

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 Los Alamos, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Los Alamos, NM wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Los Alamos, NM the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Los Alamos, NM earns 61% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,110 in Los Alamos, NM. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,222 in Los Alamos, NM. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Los Alamos, NM – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,500 in Los Alamos, NM versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Los Alamos, NM but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Los Alamos, NM the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Los Alamos, NM gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.