Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Santa Cruz do Sul

For one person, living is cheaper in Santa Cruz do Sul: $949 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $21,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
45

Cost of Living Index in Santa Cruz do Sul
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Santa Cruz do Sul Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,698

/mo nomad

Santa Cruz do Sul

🇧🇷 Brazil

$949

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Santa Cruz do Sul

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 Santa Cruz do Sul actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,698 in Austin, TX versus $949 in Santa Cruz do Sul.

Austin, TX $2,698
Santa Cruz do Sul $949

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,160 in Austin, TX versus $1,519 in Santa Cruz do Sul.

Austin, TX $4,160
Santa Cruz do Sul $1,519

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,622 in Austin, TX versus $2,089 in Santa Cruz do Sul.

Austin, TX $5,622
Santa Cruz do Sul $2,089

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 184% more expensive than in Santa Cruz do Sul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 99% above, Santa Cruz do Sul is 30% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.63 $20.63

$5.96 R$30.23

246.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$35.87 R$182

135.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$7.10 R$35.99

70.00%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$2.24 R$11.36

144.64%

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

$3.80 $3.80

$1.35 R$6.82

181.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.88 R$4.46

180.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$1.74 R$8.82

362.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.88 $8.88

$2.70 R$13.70

228.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$0.88 R$4.45

26.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.80 R$9.15

106.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$1.39 R$7.07

142.45%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$2.24 R$11.36

92.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.13 $13.13

$8.97 R$45.45

46.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.15 $14.15

$4.80 R$24.32

194.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 $16.33

$7.87 R$39.91

107.50%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$2.18 R$11.06

108.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.11 R$5.63

31.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$1.18 R$5.99

299.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$1.52 R$7.73

173.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.26 R$6.37

104.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.21 R$6.12

94.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.77 $1.77

$0.89 R$4.52

98.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$0.87 R$4.42

145.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.10 $10.10

$2.33 R$11.80

333.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.22 R$36.60

110.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.17 R$5.91

141.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$1.99 R$10.11

72.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.99 R$5.00

55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.99 $40.99

$48.92 R$248

-16.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.17 R$5.91

139.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$0.92 R$4.66

73.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.34 $34.34

$7.79 R$39.50

340.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.11 R$5.64

-15.32%

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

$34.0K $34.0K

$20.3K R$103.1K

67.05%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$33.4K R$169.4K

-19.91%

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

$223 $223

$86.3 R$438

157.97%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$13.08 R$66.3

350.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.6 $70.6

$23.04 R$117

206.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 $57.7

$25.93 R$131

122.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.53 $16.53

$24.49 R$124

-32.50%

Cinema Ticket

$14.26 $14.26

$7.66 R$38.85

86.16%

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

$1,511 $1,511

$288 R$1,462

423.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$6,499 R$32.9K

221.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 $51.3

$49.59 R$251

3.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.17 $44.17

$55.4 R$281

-20.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 $87.0

$99.2 R$503

-12.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$65.8 R$333

58.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,940 $1,940

$533 R$2,702

263.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 $1,316

$296 R$1,499

345.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$927 R$4,697

295.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,565 $2,565

$607 R$3,075

322.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,354 $7,354

$1,850 R$9,380

297.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,129 $3,129

$1,188 R$6,021

163.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,286 $5,286

$373 R$1,889

1318.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

-38.27%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz do Sul: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.8%

Santa Cruz do Sul

$296 31.2% 77.5% $1K

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$406 15.1%

Santa Cruz do Sul

$190 20.1% 53.1% $216

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$352 13.1%

Santa Cruz do Sul

$122 12.9% 65.2% $230

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$350 13%

Santa Cruz do Sul

$119 12.5% 66% $231

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$129 4.8%

Santa Cruz do Sul

$121 12.8% 5.9% $7.6

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Santa Cruz do Sul

$41 4.4% 52.2% $45

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$58 2.2%

Santa Cruz do Sul

$59 6.2% 1.2% $0.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,940 in Austin, TX and $533 in Santa Cruz do Sul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 1319% 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 $36.00 in Santa Cruz do Sul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $190 per month, with Santa Cruz do Sul cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇧🇷 Santa Cruz do Sul

🕒 Local time

18:44 6:44 PM

20:44 8:44 PM

2 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

133,246

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Brazilian Real BRL R$

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

1 BRL = 0.197 USD

1 BRL = 0.175 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇧🇷 Brazilian Real (R$)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

BRL to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Austin, TX Santa Cruz do Sul 8,220 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Santa Cruz do Sul

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 Santa Cruz do Sul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Cruz do Sul wins on cost – living expenses run 184% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Cruz do Sul the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 1319% 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: $1,940 in Austin, TX versus $533 in Santa Cruz do Sul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,698 per month in Austin, TX versus $949 in Santa Cruz do Sul – a 184% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Santa Cruz do Sul runs roughly 19% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $949 in Santa Cruz do Sul versus $2,698 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Santa Cruz do Sul but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Cruz do Sul 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.

Expats usually find Santa Cruz do Sul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 184% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.