Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Pickering, ON

For one person, living costs are similar in Austin, TX and in Pickering, ON: $2,663 and $2,540 a month, rent and utilities included.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Pickering, ON
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,540
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Pickering, ON

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $2,540 in Pickering, ON.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Pickering, ON $2,540

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $3,563 in Pickering, ON.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Pickering, ON $3,563

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $4,586 in Pickering, ON.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Pickering, ON $4,586

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 5% more expensive than in Pickering, ON, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 97% above, Pickering, ON 88% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Pickering, ON
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$13.80 CA$19.51
50.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$56.7 CA$80.2
49.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$10.44 CA$14.76
18.01%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$2.03 CA$2.88
177.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.59 CA$2.24
133.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.55 CA$2.20
61.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$4.57 CA$6.46
76.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$4.68 CA$6.61
92.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Pickering, ON
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$2.16 CA$3.05
-48.15%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$2.17 CA$3.07
72.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$4.35 CA$6.14
-25.06%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$3.57 CA$5.05
16.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$9.36 CA$13.23
37.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$11.24 CA$15.90
25.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$13.82 CA$19.53
17.37%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$3.06 CA$4.33
41.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$0.53 CA$0.75
175.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.40 CA$3.39
87.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$2.05 CA$2.90
111.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.06 CA$2.91
25.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.64 CA$3.73
-10.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.62 CA$3.70
-32.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.23 CA$1.74
80.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$13.32 CA$18.83
-25.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$12.75 CA$18.03
18.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.79 CA$2.53
63.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.29 CA$3.24
51.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Pickering, ON
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$2.75 CA$3.89
-45.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$162 CA$228
-74.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.73 CA$3.87
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.19 CA$3.10
-24.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$21.56 CA$30.49
63.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.08 CA$1.53
-12.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$24.6K CA$34.8K
46.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$19.7K CA$27.9K
37.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Pickering, ON
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$102 CA$144
124.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$32.94 CA$46.56
80.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$48.68 CA$68.8
43.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Pickering, ON
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$58.6 CA$82.8
-2.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$25.42 CA$35.94
-35.76%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$11.11 CA$15.71
28.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Pickering, ON
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$503 CA$711
199.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$27.6K CA$39.0K
-22.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Pickering, ON
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$71.9 CA$102
-26.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$52.4 CA$74.0
-16.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$80.5 CA$114
5.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$78.4 CA$111
31.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Pickering, ON
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$1,644 CA$2,324
16.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$1,437 CA$2,031
-11.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$2,476 CA$3,500
47.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$2,094 CA$2,961
21.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$4,203 CA$5,942
81.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$3,896 CA$5,508
-18.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Pickering, ON
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$2,911 CA$4,116
75.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
4.22
60.90%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Pickering, ON: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Pickering, ON
$1.4K 12.8% $163
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Pickering, ON
$315 22.2% $90
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Pickering, ON
$184 48.8% $175
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Pickering, ON
$211 40.4% $143
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Pickering, ON
$127 0.4% $0.5
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Pickering, ON
$81 5.8% $5
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Pickering, ON
$186 217% $128

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $1,644 in Pickering, ON. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 76% 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 $57.0 in Pickering, ON for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $315 per month, with Pickering, ON cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇨🇦 Pickering, ON
🕒 Local time
03:26 3:26 AM
04:26 4:26 AM
1 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
91,771
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Pickering, ON 2,230 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Pickering, ON

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 Pickering, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Pickering, ON?
Pickering, ON wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pickering, ON the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Pickering, ON?
Average pay runs 76% 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 Pickering, ON?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $1,644 in Pickering, ON. 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 Pickering, ON?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,540 in Pickering, ON – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Pickering, ON?
A monthly transit pass in Pickering, ON runs roughly 287% 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 $3,000/month in Austin, TX or in Pickering, ON?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Pickering, ON is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Pickering, ON?
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 Pickering, ON?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Pickering, ON 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 Pickering, ON gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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