Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Silver City, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Silver City, NM

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,510 in Silver City, NM.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,709 in Silver City, NM.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,907 in Silver City, NM.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 7% more expensive than in Silver City, NM, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Silver City, NM 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$19.12 $19.12

3.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$80.6 $80.6

4.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$13.26 $13.26

-7.24%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.33 $5.33

2.81%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.66 $2.66

39.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.38 $1.38

71.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$7.18 $7.18

8.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$7.20 $7.20

26.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.79 $0.79

43.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.53 $3.53

6.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.48 $2.48

38.31%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.56 $4.56

-4.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$12.79 $12.79

2.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$10.93 $10.93

31.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$16.87 $16.87

1.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.41 $4.41

1.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.72 $1.72

-16.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$3.81 $3.81

22.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.26 $4.26

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.58 $2.58

16.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.52 $2.52

6.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.06 $2.06

-10.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.46 $1.46

49.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$10.73 $10.73

-11.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$13.26 $13.26

13.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.49 $2.49

16.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.70 $3.70

-5.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.04 $2.04

-19.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.74 $2.74

2.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.39 $1.39

13.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$36.31 $36.31

-3.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.96 $0.96

-6.25%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$35.8K $35.8K

0.11%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$21.7K $21.7K

27.38%

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

$222 $222

$211 $211

5.30%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$59.6 $59.6

-2.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$75.2 $75.2

-8.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$41.91 $41.91

57.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$13.15 $13.15

4.79%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,122 $1,122

36.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$15.6K $15.6K

36.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$53.6 $53.6

1.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$42.90 $42.90

2.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$94.0 $94.0

-4.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$113 $113

-3.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,100 $1,100

76.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,315 $1,315

-4.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$1,977 $1,977

90.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,114 $2,114

22.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,952 $1,952

279.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$1,907 $1,907

68.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$3,022 $3,022

68.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.06

6.27%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Silver City, NM: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,100 in Silver City, NM. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 68% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $81.0 in Silver City, NM for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $369 per month, with Silver City, NM cheaper across the board.

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 Silver City, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Silver City, NM wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Silver City, NM the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 68% 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,100 in Silver City, NM. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,122 in Silver City, NM. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Silver City, NM – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,510 in Silver City, NM versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Silver City, NM but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Silver City, NM 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 Silver City, NM gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.