Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Obihiro

For one person, living is cheaper in Obihiro: $1,213 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $17,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,698
/mo nomad
Obihiro
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,213
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,698 in Austin, TX versus $1,213 in Obihiro.

  • Austin, TX $2,698
  • Obihiro $1,213

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,160 in Austin, TX versus $1,909 in Obihiro.

  • Austin, TX $4,160
  • Obihiro $1,909

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,622 in Austin, TX versus $2,605 in Obihiro.

  • Austin, TX $5,622
  • Obihiro $2,605

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 99% above, Obihiro is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Obihiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.63 $20.63
$7.85 ¥1,241
162.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$31.69 ¥5,007
166.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.07 $12.07
$5.09 ¥804
137.13%
Cappuccino
$5.48 $5.48
$3.01 ¥475
82.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 $3.80
$1.20 ¥189
216.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.63 ¥257
51.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$2.67 ¥421
201.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.88 $8.88
$3.07 ¥485
189.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Obihiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.52 ¥239
-26.97%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.54 ¥243
141.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$4.25 ¥672
-20.71%
Eggs
$4.32 $4.32
$2.08 ¥329
107.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.13 $13.13
$10.14 ¥1,602
29.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.15 $14.15
$6.60 ¥1,043
114.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.33 $16.33
$16.76 ¥2,648
-2.57%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$3.67 ¥580
23.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.36 ¥373
-38.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$2.92 ¥462
61.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.28 ¥677
-3.04%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.48 ¥392
4.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.45 ¥387
-4.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.28 ¥202
38.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$0.80 ¥126
167.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.10 $10.10
$3.84 ¥607
163.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.19 $15.19
$6.64 ¥1,050
128.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.88 ¥297
50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.16 ¥341
59.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Obihiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.44 ¥228
6.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.99 $40.99
$52.6 ¥8,309
-22.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.80 $2.80
$3.07 ¥485
-8.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 $1.60
$2.80 ¥442
-42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.34 $34.34
$18.38 ¥2,904
86.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.10 ¥175
-14.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K $34.0K
$21.2K ¥3.3M
60.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$14.9K ¥2.4M
79.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Obihiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 $223
$134 ¥21.2K
66.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$24.54 ¥3,877
140.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6 $70.6
$30.44 ¥4,809
131.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Obihiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 $57.7
$52.4 ¥8,280
10.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.53 $16.53
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.26 $14.26
$12.14 ¥1,918
17.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Obihiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,511 $1,511
$514 ¥81.2K
194.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K $20.9K
$12.7K ¥2.0M
64.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Obihiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
$49.05 ¥7,750
4.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.17 $44.17
$31.43 ¥4,966
40.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.0 $87.0
$61.4 ¥9,700
41.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$88.1 ¥13.9K
18.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Obihiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,940 $1,940
$527 ¥83.3K
267.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 $1,316
$334 ¥52.7K
294.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,122 ¥177.2K
226.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,565 $2,565
$729 ¥115.1K
252.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,354 $7,354
$4,177 ¥660.0K
76.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,129 $3,129
$1,784 ¥281.9K
75.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Obihiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,286 $5,286
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
2.21
207.24%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Last update for Obihiro: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Obihiro
$334 74.6% $983
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$406
Obihiro
$289 28.7% $117
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$352
Obihiro
$189 46.3% $163
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$350
Obihiro
$145 58.6% $205
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Obihiro
$103 19.8% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Obihiro
$77 11.1% $9.5
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$58
Obihiro
$75 30.2% $18

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,940 in Austin, TX and $527 in Obihiro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $32.00 in Obihiro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $289 per month, with Obihiro cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇯🇵 Obihiro
🕒 Local time
15:36 3:36 PM
05:36 5:36 AM
14 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
166,536
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, 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).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 20, 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 Obihiro 9,780 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Obihiro

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 Obihiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Obihiro?
Obihiro 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 Obihiro the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Obihiro?
You'd need roughly $4,046 in Austin, TX and $1,819 in Obihiro 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 Obihiro?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,940 in Austin, TX versus $527 in Obihiro. 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 Obihiro?
All in, you'll spend $2,698 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,213 in Obihiro – 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 Obihiro?
A monthly transit pass in Obihiro runs roughly 28% 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 Obihiro?
At $1,213 in Obihiro versus $2,698 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Obihiro but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Obihiro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Obihiro?
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 Obihiro?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Obihiro 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 Obihiro 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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