Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Manzanillo

For one person, living is cheaper in Manzanillo: $1,230 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $17,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Manzanillo
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,230
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,230 in Manzanillo.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Manzanillo $1,230

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $2,152 in Manzanillo.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Manzanillo $2,152

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $3,075 in Manzanillo.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Manzanillo $3,075

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 117% more expensive than in Manzanillo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Manzanillo is 9% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Manzanillo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$11.10 MX$205
87.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$32.44 MX$599
160.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$10.83 MX$200
13.76%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$3.58 MX$66.2
57.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.17 MX$21.59
217.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.17 MX$21.54
113.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$2.16 MX$40.00
272.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$4.39 MX$81.1
105.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Manzanillo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.48 MX$27.40
-24.32%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$2.60 MX$47.96
44.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.20 MX$22.26
171.67%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$2.09 MX$38.64
99.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$8.28 MX$153
55.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$5.41 MX$100
161.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$9.93 MX$184
63.34%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$2.93 MX$54.2
47.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.42 MX$26.31
2.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.78 MX$32.89
153.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.52 MX$28.14
185.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.23 MX$41.12
15.70%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.69 MX$31.24
39.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.87 MX$34.57
-4.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.20 MX$22.10
85.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$5.44 MX$100
81.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$6.62 MX$122
127.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.83 MX$33.77
59.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.52 MX$46.60
37.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Manzanillo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.75 MX$13.90
98.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.41 MX$44.55
13.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.43 MX$44.84
-31.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$9.40 MX$174
275.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.36 MX$25.17
-30.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$20.9K MX$386.6K
72.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$24.4K MX$450.4K
11.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Manzanillo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$65.5 MX$1,211
249.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$19.83 MX$367
199.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$29.37 MX$543
138.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Manzanillo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$65.3 MX$1,206
-12.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$33.01 MX$610
-50.53%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$4.46 MX$82.4
220.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Manzanillo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$163 MX$3,016
822.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$7,172 MX$132.5K
199.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Manzanillo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$43.02 MX$795
22.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$24.85 MX$459
76.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$75.6 MX$1,397
12.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$120 MX$2,213
-13.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Manzanillo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$684 MX$12.6K
178.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$479 MX$8,845
166.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,519 MX$28.1K
141.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$1,373 MX$25.4K
84.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Manzanillo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$409 MX$7,563
1151.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
11.3
-39.91%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Manzanillo: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Manzanillo
$479 62.4% $795
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Manzanillo
$233 42.4% $172
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Manzanillo
$115 68% $244
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Manzanillo
$193 45.4% $161
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Manzanillo
$118 7.4% $9.5
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Manzanillo
$74 13.5% $12
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Manzanillo
$18 * 70.1% $41

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $684 in Manzanillo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 1151% 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 $32.00 in Manzanillo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $233 per month, with Manzanillo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇲🇽 Manzanillo
🕒 Local time
00:51 12:51 AM
23:51 11:51 PM
1 h behind Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
159,853
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, 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).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Manzanillo 1,410 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Manzanillo

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 Manzanillo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Manzanillo?
Manzanillo wins on cost – living expenses run 117% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Manzanillo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Manzanillo?
Average pay runs 1151% 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 Manzanillo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $684 in Manzanillo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Austin, TX and in Manzanillo?
Childcare runs $1,506 in Austin, TX versus $163 in Manzanillo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Austin, TX and in Manzanillo?
Dining out is cheaper in Manzanillo – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Manzanillo?
At $1,230 in Manzanillo versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Manzanillo but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Manzanillo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Manzanillo?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Manzanillo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% 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

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