Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Qatif

For one person, living is cheaper in Qatif: $1,102 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $18,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
54

Cost of Living Index in Qatif
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Qatif Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Qatif

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

$1,102

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,102 in Qatif.

Austin, TX $2,663
Qatif $1,102

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,642 in Qatif.

Austin, TX $4,133
Qatif $1,642

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,183 in Qatif.

Austin, TX $5,603
Qatif $2,183

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 142% more expensive than in Qatif, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Qatif is 18% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.77 $20.77

$3.48 SAR 13.07

496.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$34.45 SAR 129

145.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$6.59 SAR 24.75

86.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 SAR 6.84

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 SAR 8.60

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$3.15 SAR 11.81

78.73%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$0.78 SAR 2.92

376.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$0.20 SAR 0.76

1150.00%

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

$1.81 SAR 6.78

-38.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$0.97 SAR 3.63

286.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.86 SAR 6.96

75.27%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$2.12 SAR 7.94

96.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

$5.96 SAR 22.35

116.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$7.77 SAR 29.16

82.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$12.73 SAR 47.77

27.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$2.20 SAR 8.25

96.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.70 SAR 6.36

-14.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$1.58 SAR 5.94

185.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$0.69 SAR 2.59

528.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.12 SAR 4.19

130.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.15 SAR 4.32

104.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$0.97 SAR 3.66

83.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.55 SAR 2.06

303.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.71 SAR 10.18

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 SAR 5.42

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 SAR 7.98

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

$6.24 SAR 23.42

58.33%

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

$1.10 SAR 4.13

35.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

$36.81 SAR 138

13.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.42 SAR 9.09

12.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.55 SAR 2.07

201.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$13.11 SAR 49.19

169.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.62 SAR 2.34

53.23%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$35.9K SAR 134.6K

0.49%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$20.7K SAR 77.8K

30.55%

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

$229 $229

$107 SAR 400

114.65%

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

$59.4 $59.4

$32.52 SAR 122

82.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$58.1 SAR 218

20.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

$81.9 SAR 307

-30.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

$21.75 SAR 81.6

-24.92%

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

$13.33 SAR 50.0

7.13%

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

$1,506 $1,506

$268 SAR 1,005

462.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

$8,092 SAR 30.4K

165.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$31.99 SAR 120

65.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

$21.32 SAR 80.0

105.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$96.9 SAR 364

-12.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$90.0 SAR 338

14.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$575 SAR 2,159

231.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 $1,274

$367 SAR 1,375

247.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$832 SAR 3,121

340.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 $2,538

$573 SAR 2,151

342.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,614 $7,614

$976 SAR 3,663

680.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

$790 SAR 2,963

299.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,121 $5,121

$2,275 SAR 8,537

125.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

5.5

23.45%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Qatif: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8%

Qatif

$367 33.3% 71.2% $908

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$405 15.2%

Qatif

$186 16.9% 54.1% $219

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$358 13.5%

Qatif

$197 17.9% 44.9% $161

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$354 13.3%

Qatif

$89 8.1% 74.8% $265

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

Qatif

$108 9.8% 15.5% $20

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Qatif

$109 9.9% 26.5% $23

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

Qatif

$46 4.2% 21% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $575 in Qatif. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 125% 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 $34.00 in Qatif for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $186 per month, with Qatif cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇸🇦 Qatif

🕒 Local time

10:12 10:12 AM

18:12 6:12 PM

8 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

87,332

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

1 SAR = 0.266 USD

1 SAR = 0.237 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

SAR, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇸🇦 Saudi Riyal (ر.س)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

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

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.22 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

SAR to USD in detail →

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Between locations

Austin, TX Qatif 12,830 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Qatif

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 Qatif: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Qatif wins on cost – living expenses run 142% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Qatif the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 125% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $575 in Qatif. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,102 in Qatif – a 142% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Qatif runs roughly 13% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,102 in Qatif versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Qatif but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Qatif 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 Qatif 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 Qatif gentler on the wallet – expenses run 142% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.