Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Puttalam

For one person, living is cheaper in Puttalam: $62.2 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $31,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Puttalam

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$62.2

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $62.2 in Puttalam.

Austin, TX $2,663
Puttalam $62.2

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $108 in Puttalam.

Austin, TX $4,133
Puttalam $108

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $154 in Puttalam.

Austin, TX $5,603
Puttalam $154

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 4185% more expensive than in Puttalam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Puttalam is 95% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.77 $20.77

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 $9.01

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$0.48 LKR 157

681.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$0.79 LKR 261

312.66%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$1.29 LKR 428

223.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$3.54 LKR 1,173

300.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$7.40 LKR 2,452

119.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.79 LKR 260

84.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.37 LKR 123

500.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

$7.05 LKR 2,335

40.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.0K $36.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K $27.1K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$229 $229

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.4 $59.4

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,506 $1,506

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 $1,274

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 $2,538

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,614 $7,614

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,121 $5,121

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Puttalam: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8%

Puttalam

–

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$405 15.2%

Puttalam

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$358 13.5%

Puttalam

–

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$354 13.3%

Puttalam

–

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

Puttalam

–

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Puttalam

–

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

Puttalam

–

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇱🇰 Puttalam

🕒 Local time

15:22 3:22 PM

01:52 1:52 AM

10 h 30 min ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

45,400

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Sri Lankan Rupee LKR Rs

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

1,000 LKR = 3.02 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.69 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇱🇰 Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 331 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.02 USD). 1 EUR = 372 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.69 EUR).

LKR to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Austin, TX Puttalam 15,750 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Puttalam

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 Puttalam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Puttalam wins on cost – living expenses run 4185% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Puttalam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $3,995 in Austin, TX and $93.2 in Puttalam 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 551% higher in Austin, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $62.2 in Puttalam – a 4185% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $62.2 in Puttalam versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Puttalam but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Puttalam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Puttalam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Puttalam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4185% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.