Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Matsudo

For one person, living is cheaper in Matsudo: $1,200 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $17,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Matsudo
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,200
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,200 in Matsudo.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Matsudo $1,200

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,896 in Matsudo.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Matsudo $1,896

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,593 in Matsudo.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Matsudo $2,593

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 122% more expensive than in Matsudo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Matsudo is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Matsudo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$6.47 ¥1,023
221.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$37.31 ¥5,895
126.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$5.02 ¥793
145.42%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$3.43 ¥542
64.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.10 ¥174
238.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.78 ¥124
220.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$2.45 ¥387
228.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$3.17 ¥501
184.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Matsudo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.44 ¥227
-22.22%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.65 ¥260
127.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.59 ¥567
-9.19%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$2.09 ¥330
99.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$10.21 ¥1,613
26.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$6.06 ¥957
133.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$14.09 ¥2,226
15.12%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$4.81 ¥759
-9.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.29 ¥361
-36.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.94 ¥464
53.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$4.21 ¥666
3.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.64 ¥417
-2.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.67 ¥421
-11.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.15 ¥181
54.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.76 ¥120
192.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$3.79 ¥599
160.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$6.21 ¥981
142.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.63 ¥258
79.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.01 ¥318
72.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Matsudo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.53 ¥241
-2.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$53.9 ¥8,521
-22.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.17 ¥501
-13.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.74 ¥433
-39.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$18.67 ¥2,950
89.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.04 ¥164
-8.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$21.4K ¥3.4M
68.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$15.7K ¥2.5M
72.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Matsudo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$130 ¥20.5K
76.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$21.89 ¥3,458
171.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$30.21 ¥4,772
131.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Matsudo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$55.9 ¥8,832
2.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$12.39 ¥1,957
15.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Matsudo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$628 ¥99.3K
139.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$14.8K ¥2.3M
44.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Matsudo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$54.9 ¥8,670
-3.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$33.28 ¥5,257
31.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$61.5 ¥9,718
37.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$71.8 ¥11.3K
43.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Matsudo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$456 ¥72.1K
318.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$348 ¥54.9K
266.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,160 ¥183.3K
215.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$738 ¥116.6K
243.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$4,559 ¥720.3K
67.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,840 ¥290.7K
71.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Matsudo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
2.25
201.78%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Matsudo: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Matsudo
$348 72.7% $926
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Matsudo
$279 31.1% $126
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Matsudo
$182 49.2% $176
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Matsudo
$134 62.1% $220
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Matsudo
$100 22.1% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Matsudo
$81 6% $5.1
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Matsudo
$77 31% $18

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $456 in Matsudo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $37.00 in Matsudo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $279 per month, with Matsudo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇯🇵 Matsudo
🕒 Local time
16:47 4:47 PM
06:47 6:47 AM
14 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
485,803
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, 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).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Matsudo 10,520 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Matsudo

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 Matsudo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Matsudo?
Matsudo wins on cost – living expenses run 122% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Matsudo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Matsudo?
You'd need roughly $3,995 in Austin, TX and $1,800 in Matsudo 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 Matsudo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $456 in Matsudo. 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 Matsudo?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,200 in Matsudo – a 122% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Matsudo?
A monthly transit pass in Matsudo runs roughly 29% 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 Matsudo?
At $1,200 in Matsudo versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Matsudo but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Matsudo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Matsudo?
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 Matsudo?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Matsudo 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 Matsudo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 122% 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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