Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Maharagama

For one person, living is cheaper in Maharagama: $133 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $30,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Maharagama

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$133

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $133 in Maharagama.

Austin, TX $2,663
Maharagama $133

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $250 in Maharagama.

Austin, TX $4,133
Maharagama $250

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $367 in Maharagama.

Austin, TX $5,603
Maharagama $367

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1899% more expensive than in Maharagama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Maharagama is 90% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.77 $20.77

$5.39 LKR 1,785

285.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$20.20 LKR 6,690

318.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$6.82 LKR 2,260

80.65%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$2.12 LKR 701

165.57%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$0.59 LKR 196

530.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$0.29 LKR 94.8

762.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 $9.01

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$0.93 LKR 307

20.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$0.25 LKR 83.2

1400.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$0.49 LKR 162

565.31%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$1.49 LKR 494

179.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$0.44 LKR 146

520.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.47 LKR 155

253.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

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

$36.0K $36.0K

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

$27.1K $27.1K

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

$229 $229

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

$59.4 $59.4

$4.63 LKR 1,534

1182.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$13.62 LKR 4,510

413.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

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

$1,506 $1,506

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 $1,274

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$197 LKR 65.3K

1757.78%

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,121 $5,121

$244 LKR 80.7K

2002.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8%

Maharagama

–

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$405 15.2%

Maharagama

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$358 13.5%

Maharagama

–

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$354 13.3%

Maharagama

–

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

Maharagama

–

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Maharagama

–

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

Maharagama

–

Cost Breakdown

Austin, TX pays 2002% 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 $20.00 in Maharagama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $20.00 per month, with Maharagama cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇱🇰 Maharagama

🕒 Local time

04:29 4:29 AM

14:59 2:59 PM

10 h 30 min ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

196,400

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Sri Lankan Rupee LKR Rs

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

1,000 LKR = 3.02 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.69 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇱🇰 Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

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).

LKR to USD in detail →

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Austin, TX Maharagama 15,880 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Maharagama

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 Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maharagama wins on cost – living expenses run 1899% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Maharagama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 2002% 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.

All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $133 in Maharagama – a 1899% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1954% higher in Austin, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $133 in Maharagama versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maharagama but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Maharagama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Maharagama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $133 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Maharagama hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Maharagama are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Maharagama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1899% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.