Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Sarnia

For one person, living is cheaper in Sarnia: $2,002 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $7,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
96

Cost of Living Index in Sarnia
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Sarnia Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Sarnia

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,002

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $2,002 in Sarnia.

Austin, TX $2,663
Sarnia $2,002

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $2,788 in Sarnia.

Austin, TX $4,133
Sarnia $2,788

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $3,574 in Sarnia.

Austin, TX $5,603
Sarnia $3,574

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 33% more expensive than in Sarnia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 97% above, Sarnia 48% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.77 $20.77

$13.54 CA$19.24

53.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$45.30 CA$64.4

86.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$9.77 CA$13.89

26.10%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$2.95 CA$4.20

90.85%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$1.93 CA$2.75

92.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.37 CA$1.94

82.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$4.26 CA$6.05

88.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 $9.01

$5.72 CA$8.13

57.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.25 CA$1.77

-10.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.39 CA$3.40

56.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.42 CA$3.45

34.71%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$2.77 CA$3.94

50.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

$11.04 CA$15.69

16.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$11.18 CA$15.89

26.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$13.68 CA$19.44

18.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$3.51 CA$5.00

23.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.17 CA$1.67

24.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.48 CA$4.95

29.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.46 CA$4.92

25.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.32 CA$1.87

95.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.80 CA$2.56

30.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.63 CA$2.32

9.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.26 CA$1.79

76.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

$12.21 CA$17.36

-19.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$9.98 CA$14.19

51.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.42 CA$3.44

20.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.77 CA$3.93

24.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.30 CA$3.27

-35.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

$56.7 CA$80.6

-26.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.43 CA$3.46

12.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.70 CA$2.42

-2.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$27.85 CA$39.58

26.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.17 CA$1.66

-18.80%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$27.4K CA$38.9K

31.60%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$18.8K CA$26.8K

43.81%

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

$229 $229

$138 CA$197

65.37%

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

$59.4 $59.4

$29.32 CA$41.67

102.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$45.42 CA$64.6

53.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

$23.76 CA$33.77

140.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

$17.73 CA$25.20

-7.90%

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

$11.50 CA$16.35

24.17%

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

$1,506 $1,506

$349 CA$497

331.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

$15.8K CA$22.5K

35.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$55.3 CA$78.7

-4.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

$29.75 CA$42.28

47.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$74.0 CA$105

14.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$73.0 CA$104

41.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$1,342 CA$1,907

42.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 $1,274

$1,032 CA$1,467

23.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$2,432 CA$3,456

50.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 $2,538

$1,451 CA$2,063

74.89%

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

$3,061 CA$4,351

67.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

5.09

33.40%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Sarnia: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8%

Sarnia

$1K 51.5% 19% $242

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$405 15.2%

Sarnia

$310 15.5% 23.4% $95

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$358 13.5%

Sarnia

$213 10.7% 40.5% $145

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$354 13.3%

Sarnia

$219 10.9% 38.1% $135

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

Sarnia

$104 5.2% 18.4% $24

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Sarnia

$47 2.3% 45.5% $39

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

Sarnia

$77 3.8% 31% $18

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $1,342 in Sarnia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 67% 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 $45.00 in Sarnia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $310 per month, with Sarnia cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇨🇦 Sarnia

🕒 Local time

21:20 9:20 PM

22:20 10:20 PM

1 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

71,594

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Canadian Dollar CAD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

1 CAD = 0.704 USD

1 CAD = 0.628 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇨🇦 Canadian Dollar ($)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.893 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.704 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

CAD to USD in detail →

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Austin, TX Sarnia 1,960 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Sarnia

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 Sarnia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sarnia wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sarnia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 67% 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 $1,342 in Sarnia. 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 $2,002 in Sarnia – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sarnia runs roughly 36% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,002 in Sarnia versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sarnia but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Sarnia 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 Sarnia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.