Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Nanchong

For one person, living is cheaper in Nanchong: $682 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $23,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Nanchong
🇨🇳 China
$682
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $682 in Nanchong.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Nanchong $682

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,112 in Nanchong.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Nanchong $1,112

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $1,543 in Nanchong.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Nanchong $1,543

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 291% more expensive than in Nanchong, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Nanchong is 50% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Nanchong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$1.75 ¥11.70
1086.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$22.63 ¥151
273.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$3.02 ¥20.17
307.95%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$2.02 ¥13.49
178.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$0.43 ¥2.90
765.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.31 ¥2.09
706.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$1.22 ¥8.14
559.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$1.75 ¥11.72
414.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Nanchong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.93 ¥12.90
-41.97%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.60 ¥10.68
134.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$0.63 ¥4.23
417.46%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$2.16 ¥14.41
93.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$18.25 ¥122
-29.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$3.43 ¥22.95
312.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$9.97 ¥66.7
62.69%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$1.53 ¥10.24
183.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.30 ¥8.67
12.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.25 ¥8.33
260.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.20 ¥8.04
261.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$0.67 ¥4.45
285.07%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.93 ¥6.23
152.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$0.84 ¥5.60
111.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.61 ¥4.09
263.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$2.96 ¥19.82
233.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$8.74 ¥58.4
72.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$0.81 ¥5.43
260.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.69 ¥11.33
104.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Nanchong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.34 ¥2.25
338.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$18.28 ¥122
128.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$1.52 ¥10.17
79.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.31 ¥2.10
435.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$3.08 ¥20.58
1046.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.31 ¥8.77
-27.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$19.5K ¥130.2K
85.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$16.9K ¥112.7K
60.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Nanchong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$44.74 ¥299
411.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$7.19 ¥48.08
726.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$6.88 ¥46.01
916.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Nanchong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$41.93 ¥280
36.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$14.50 ¥97.0
12.62%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$6.16 ¥41.16
131.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Nanchong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$292 ¥1,955
414.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$25.5K ¥170.8K
-16.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Nanchong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$39.45 ¥264
33.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$30.06 ¥201
45.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$64.4 ¥431
31.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$63.9 ¥427
61.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Nanchong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$298 ¥1,991
540.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$183 ¥1,222
596.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$624 ¥4,169
487.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$382 ¥2,557
563.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$3,201 ¥21.4K
137.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,973 ¥13.2K
60.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Nanchong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
3.34
103.29%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Nanchong: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Nanchong
$183 85.7% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Nanchong
$214 47.1% $190
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Nanchong
$59 83.6% $299
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Nanchong
$60 83.1% $294
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Nanchong
$89 30.4% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Nanchong
$54 36.8% $32
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Nanchong
$23 61.3% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $298 in Nanchong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $23.00 in Nanchong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $214 per month, with Nanchong cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇨🇳 Nanchong
🕒 Local time
02:36 2:36 AM
15:36 3:36 PM
13 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
5,607,565
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Nanchong 12,770 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Nanchong

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 Nanchong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Nanchong?
Nanchong wins on cost – living expenses run 291% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nanchong the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Nanchong?
You'd need roughly $3,995 in Austin, TX and $1,022 in Nanchong 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 Nanchong?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $298 in Nanchong. 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 Nanchong?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $682 in Nanchong – a 291% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Nanchong?
A monthly transit pass in Nanchong runs roughly 128% 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 $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Nanchong?
At $682 in Nanchong versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Nanchong but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Nanchong the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Nanchong?
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 Nanchong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 291% 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

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?