Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Ratchaburi

For one person, living is cheaper in Ratchaburi: $944 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $20,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Ratchaburi
🇹🇭 Thailand
$944
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $944 in Ratchaburi.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Ratchaburi $944

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,573 in Ratchaburi.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Ratchaburi $1,573

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,202 in Ratchaburi.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Ratchaburi $2,202

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 182% more expensive than in Ratchaburi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Ratchaburi is 30% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Ratchaburi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$3.59 ฿120
478.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$35.96 ฿1,202
135.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$9.10 ฿304
35.38%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$2.04 ฿68.1
175.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$0.74 ฿24.78
402.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.30 ฿9.93
733.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$2.31 ฿77.2
248.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$2.66 ฿88.8
238.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Ratchaburi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.78 ฿59.6
-37.08%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.44 ฿47.98
160.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.39 ฿46.38
134.53%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$2.22 ฿74.1
87.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$15.32 ฿512
-15.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$2.56 ฿85.7
453.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$10.00 ฿334
62.20%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$3.48 ฿116
24.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.21 ฿40.35
20.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.92 ฿64.1
134.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.91 ฿63.8
127.23%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.20 ฿40.07
115.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.09 ฿36.40
115.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.22 ฿40.84
45.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.45 ฿14.99
393.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$4.30 ฿144
129.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$17.87 ฿597
-15.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.76 ฿58.8
65.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.90 ฿96.8
19.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Ratchaburi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.92 ฿30.82
61.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$1.38 ฿46.08
97.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.12 ฿37.58
48.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$3.60 ฿120
880.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.51 ฿50.4
-37.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$46.1K ฿1.5M
-21.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$26.9K ฿899.0K
0.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Ratchaburi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$90.9 ฿3,037
152.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$11.58 ฿387
412.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$19.18 ฿641
264.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Ratchaburi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$46.61 ฿1,558
22.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$14.27 ฿477
14.44%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$7.49 ฿250
90.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Ratchaburi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$628 ฿21.0K
139.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$14.3K ฿477.1K
50.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Ratchaburi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$50.5 ฿1,686
4.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$29.47 ฿985
48.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$93.9 ฿3,138
-9.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$74.8 ฿2,501
37.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Ratchaburi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$441 ฿14.7K
332.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$293 ฿9,777
335.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,387 ฿46.3K
164.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$737 ฿24.6K
244.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$1,969 ฿65.8K
286.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,584 ฿52.9K
99.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Ratchaburi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
5.96
13.93%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Ratchaburi: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Ratchaburi
$293 77% $982
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Ratchaburi
$244 39.8% $161
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Ratchaburi
$122 66.1% $237
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Ratchaburi
$102 71.3% $252
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Ratchaburi
$112 12.6% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Ratchaburi
$62 28.2% $24
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Ratchaburi
$11 * 81.8% $48

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $441 in Ratchaburi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $36.00 in Ratchaburi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $244 per month, with Ratchaburi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇹🇭 Ratchaburi
🕒 Local time
17:46 5:46 PM
05:46 5:46 AM
12 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
38,208
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, 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).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Ratchaburi 14,790 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Ratchaburi

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 Ratchaburi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Ratchaburi?
Ratchaburi wins on cost – living expenses run 182% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ratchaburi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Ratchaburi?
You'd need roughly $3,995 in Austin, TX and $1,415 in Ratchaburi 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 Ratchaburi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $441 in Ratchaburi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Austin, TX and in Ratchaburi?
Childcare runs $1,506 in Austin, TX versus $628 in Ratchaburi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Austin, TX and in Ratchaburi?
Dining out is cheaper in Ratchaburi – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Austin, TX or in Ratchaburi?
At $944 in Ratchaburi versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ratchaburi but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Ratchaburi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Ratchaburi?
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 Ratchaburi?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Ratchaburi 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 Ratchaburi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 182% 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

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?