Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Onesti

For one person, living is cheaper in Onesti: $1,060 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $19,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Onesti
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,060
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,060 in Onesti.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Onesti $1,060

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,597 in Onesti.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Onesti $1,597

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,135 in Onesti.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Onesti $2,135

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 151% more expensive than in Onesti, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Onesti is 21% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Onesti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$10.61 RON 50.2
95.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$42.76 RON 202
97.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$7.14 RON 33.78
72.55%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$2.89 RON 13.67
94.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.20 RON 10.41
69.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.77 RON 8.36
41.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$3.21 RON 15.19
150.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$3.71 RON 17.56
142.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Onesti
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.04 RON 4.92
7.69%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.36 RON 6.46
175.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.06 RON 9.73
58.25%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$2.98 RON 14.10
39.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$7.23 RON 34.19
78.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$6.50 RON 30.74
117.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$9.94 RON 47.03
63.18%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$1.03 RON 4.89
320.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.45 RON 6.86
0.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.59 RON 7.55
183.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$2.08 RON 9.85
108.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$0.84 RON 3.99
207.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.89 RON 4.22
164.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.16 RON 5.51
53.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.61 RON 2.90
263.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$6.40 RON 30.29
54.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$5.22 RON 24.69
188.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.37 RON 6.48
113.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.03 RON 9.60
70.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Onesti
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.77 RON 3.64
93.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$21.59 RON 102
93.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$0.87 RON 4.12
213.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.80 RON 3.79
107.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$8.20 RON 38.79
330.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.44 RON 6.82
-34.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$29.2K RON 137.9K
23.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$27.8K RON 131.4K
-2.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Onesti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$184 RON 870
24.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$7.27 RON 34.40
716.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$8.67 RON 41.02
706.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Onesti
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$37.79 RON 179
51.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$20.49 RON 96.9
-20.30%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$8.58 RON 40.59
66.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Onesti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$420 RON 1,987
258.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$6,932 RON 32.8K
209.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Onesti
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$38.31 RON 181
37.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$39.59 RON 187
10.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$91.9 RON 435
-7.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$89.9 RON 425
14.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Onesti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$377 RON 1,784
405.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$282 RON 1,333
352.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$587 RON 2,778
524.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$445 RON 2,106
470.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$1,876 RON 8,875
305.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,367 RON 6,466
131.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Onesti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$618 RON 2,925
728.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
7.18
-5.43%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Onesti: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Onesti
$282 77.9% $992
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Onesti
$197 51.4% $208
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Onesti
$200 44.2% $158
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Onesti
$180 49% $174
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Onesti
$117 8.7% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Onesti
$55 35.9% $31
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Onesti
$30 49.7% $29

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $377 in Onesti. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 728% 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 $43.00 in Onesti for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $197 per month, with Onesti cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇷🇴 Onesti
🕒 Local time
18:39 6:39 PM
02:39 2:39 AM
8 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
57,333
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RON, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.32 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Onesti 9,840 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Onesti

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 Onesti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Onesti?
Onesti wins on cost – living expenses run 151% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Onesti the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Onesti?
Average pay runs 728% 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 Onesti?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $377 in Onesti. 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 Onesti?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,060 in Onesti – a 151% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Onesti?
A monthly transit pass in Onesti runs roughly 93% 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 $1,000/month in Austin, TX or in Onesti?
At $1,060 in Onesti versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Onesti but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Onesti the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Onesti?
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 Onesti?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Onesti 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 Onesti gentler on the wallet – expenses run 151% 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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