Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Nagoya

For one person, living is cheaper in Nagoya: $1,369 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $15,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Nagoya
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,369
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,369 in Nagoya.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Nagoya $1,369

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $2,170 in Nagoya.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Nagoya $2,170

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,972 in Nagoya.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Nagoya $2,972

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 95% more expensive than in Nagoya, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 97% above, Nagoya 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Nagoya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$8.57 ¥1,355
142.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$31.14 ¥4,919
171.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$5.11 ¥808
141.10%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$2.39 ¥377
135.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.24 ¥195
200.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.85 ¥135
194.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$3.09 ¥489
160.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$3.20 ¥505
181.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Nagoya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.51 ¥239
-25.83%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.52 ¥241
146.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$4.03 ¥637
-19.11%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$2.15 ¥339
93.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$15.68 ¥2,477
-17.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$7.14 ¥1,129
98.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$16.92 ¥2,674
-4.14%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$8.42 ¥1,330
-48.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.90 ¥459
-49.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.86 ¥768
-7.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$7.84 ¥1,238
-44.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$4.08 ¥645
-36.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$4.75 ¥750
-50.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.14 ¥180
56.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.94 ¥148
136.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$3.86 ¥610
155.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$9.47 ¥1,496
59.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.49 ¥393
17.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.18 ¥345
58.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Nagoya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.49 ¥235
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$118 ¥18.6K
-64.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.20 ¥505
-14.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.85 ¥451
-41.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$15.80 ¥2,495
123.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.10 ¥173
-13.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$21.6K ¥3.4M
66.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$14.9K ¥2.4M
81.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Nagoya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$115 ¥18.2K
99.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$23.65 ¥3,736
151.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$31.18 ¥4,926
124.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Nagoya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$50.5 ¥7,971
13.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$13.41 ¥2,119
21.77%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$11.29 ¥1,784
26.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Nagoya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$572 ¥90.3K
163.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$14.8K ¥2.3M
45.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Nagoya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$49.53 ¥7,826
6.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$35.86 ¥5,666
22.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$59.7 ¥9,427
42.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$99.5 ¥15.7K
3.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Nagoya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$537 ¥84.9K
254.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$352 ¥55.6K
262.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,199 ¥189.5K
205.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$749 ¥118.3K
238.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$2,031 ¥320.8K
274.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,030 ¥162.7K
206.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Nagoya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$1,882 ¥297.4K
172.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
2.02
236.14%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Nagoya: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Nagoya
$352 72.4% $922
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Nagoya
$380 6.1% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Nagoya
$170 52.6% $188
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Nagoya
$143 59.7% $211
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Nagoya
$110 14% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Nagoya
$73 14.9% $13
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Nagoya
$141 141% $83

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $537 in Nagoya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 172% 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 $31.00 in Nagoya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $380 per month, with Nagoya cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇯🇵 Nagoya
🕒 Local time
02:20 2:20 AM
16:20 4:20 PM
14 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
2,236,000
💱 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 Nagoya 10,760 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Nagoya

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 Nagoya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Nagoya?
Nagoya wins on cost – living expenses run 95% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nagoya the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Nagoya?
Average pay runs 172% 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 Nagoya?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $537 in Nagoya. 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 Nagoya?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,369 in Nagoya – a 95% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Nagoya?
A monthly transit pass in Nagoya runs roughly 183% 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 Nagoya?
At $1,369 in Nagoya versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nagoya but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Nagoya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Nagoya?
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 Nagoya?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Nagoya 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 Nagoya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% 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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