Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Sao Jose dos Campos

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Jose dos Campos: $1,050 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $19,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Sao Jose dos Campos
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,050
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Sao Jose dos Campos

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 Sao Jose dos Campos actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $1,050 in Sao Jose dos Campos.

  • Austin, TX $2,704
  • Sao Jose dos Campos $1,050

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,660 in Sao Jose dos Campos.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Sao Jose dos Campos $1,660

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in Austin, TX versus $2,270 in Sao Jose dos Campos.

  • Austin, TX $5,562
  • Sao Jose dos Campos $2,270

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 157% more expensive than in Sao Jose dos Campos, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 102% above, Sao Jose dos Campos is 22% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Sao Jose dos Campos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$7.08 R$35.33
185.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.0 $85.0
$39.82 R$199
113.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.35 $12.35
$9.10 R$45.41
35.71%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$2.30 R$11.46
137.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$1.70 R$8.47
124.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.17 R$5.82
113.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.06 $8.06
$2.87 R$14.35
180.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.99 $8.99
$4.35 R$21.71
106.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Sao Jose dos Campos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.20 R$5.99
-5.83%
White Bread (500g)
$3.78 $3.78
$2.08 R$10.36
81.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$1.19 R$5.96
173.11%
Eggs
$4.14 $4.14
$2.70 R$13.48
53.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.08 $13.08
$9.14 R$45.61
43.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.31 $14.31
$4.45 R$22.21
221.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.96 $15.96
$10.75 R$53.7
48.47%
Apples (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$2.84 R$14.17
54.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.87 R$9.34
-22.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$1.84 R$9.21
146.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$1.88 R$9.38
122.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.43 R$7.13
83.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.37 R$6.82
72.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.76 $1.76
$0.95 R$4.72
85.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$0.80 R$3.99
170.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.81 $9.81
$2.82 R$14.08
247.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$9.00 R$44.91
63.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.73 R$8.66
60.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$4.41 R$22.00
-21.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Sao Jose dos Campos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.18 R$5.91
26.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.51 $40.51
$38.37 R$192
5.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$1.35 R$6.72
97.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.42 R$7.08
11.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.29 $35.29
$9.39 R$46.89
275.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.27 R$6.36
-22.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$23.9K R$119.1K
50.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$33.8K R$168.9K
-19.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Sao Jose dos Campos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$43.80 R$219
400.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.0 $58.0
$14.25 R$71.1
306.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$18.34 R$91.5
272.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Sao Jose dos Campos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.9 $57.9
$29.98 R$150
93.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.82 $14.82
$34.77 R$174
-57.38%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13 $14.13
$7.92 R$39.53
78.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Sao Jose dos Campos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,509 $1,509
$433 R$2,161
248.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$7,714 R$38.5K
178.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Sao Jose dos Campos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 $51.7
$56.6 R$283
-8.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.05 $44.05
$59.8 R$298
-26.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 $85.1
$96.3 R$480
-11.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$84.5 R$422
24.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Sao Jose dos Campos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,932 $1,932
$485 R$2,421
298.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 $1,272
$361 R$1,802
252.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,670 $3,670
$974 R$4,864
276.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,525 $2,525
$664 R$3,317
280.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,617 $7,617
$2,085 R$10.4K
265.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,199 $3,199
$1,498 R$7,477
113.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Sao Jose dos Campos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,105 $5,105
$813 R$4,059
527.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
11.12
-38.94%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for Sao Jose dos Campos: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Sao Jose dos Campos
$361 71.6% $911
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$403
Sao Jose dos Campos
$228 43.3% $175
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$348
Sao Jose dos Campos
$146 58.1% $202
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$346
Sao Jose dos Campos
$76 77.9% $269
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Sao Jose dos Campos
$134 3.8% $4.9
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Sao Jose dos Campos
$46 46.8% $40
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$57
Sao Jose dos Campos
$52 9.6% $5.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,932 in Austin, TX and $485 in Sao Jose dos Campos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 528% 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 $40.00 in Sao Jose dos Campos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $228 per month, with Sao Jose dos Campos cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇧🇷 Sao Jose dos Campos
🕒 Local time
02:51 2:51 AM
04:51 4:51 AM
2 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
697,054
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.99 BRL (1 BRL = 0.2 USD). 1 EUR = 5.6 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Sao Jose dos Campos 8,120 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Sao Jose dos Campos

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 Sao Jose dos Campos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Sao Jose dos Campos?
Sao Jose dos Campos wins on cost – living expenses run 157% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sao Jose dos Campos the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Sao Jose dos Campos?
Average pay runs 528% 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 Sao Jose dos Campos?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,932 in Austin, TX versus $485 in Sao Jose dos Campos. 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 Sao Jose dos Campos?
All in, you'll spend $2,704 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,050 in Sao Jose dos Campos – a 157% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Sao Jose dos Campos?
A monthly transit pass in Sao Jose dos Campos runs roughly 6% 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 $1,000/month in Austin, TX or in Sao Jose dos Campos?
At $1,050 in Sao Jose dos Campos versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sao Jose dos Campos but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Sao Jose dos Campos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Austin, TX or Sao Jose dos Campos?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sao Jose dos Campos delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,050 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sao Jose dos Campos hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Sao Jose dos Campos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 157% 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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