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: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,683 in Silver City, NM.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,762 in Silver City, NM.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,841 in Silver City, NM.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 1% less than in Silver City, NM, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Silver City, NM 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$18.01 $18.01

9.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$57.1 $57.1

31.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$12.16 $12.16

-18.42%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.18 $5.18

9.46%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.90 $2.90

-4.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.42 $1.42

52.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.30 $5.30

10.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$5.84 $5.84

33.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.84 $0.84

29.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.28 $3.28

3.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.00 $5.00

-31.40%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.34 $4.34

1.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$10.79 $10.79

10.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$11.13 $11.13

-3.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$14.84 $14.84

-3.71%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.28 $4.28

13.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.83 $1.83

-15.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.96 $3.96

12.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.11 $4.11

-4.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.43 $2.43

12.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.44 $2.44

12.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.94 $1.94

5.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.46 $1.46

54.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$9.46 $9.46

-5.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$13.42 $13.42

10.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.11 $2.11

11.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.33 $3.33

7.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.04 $2.04

-27.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.78 $2.78

53.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.39 $1.39

32.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$35.29 $35.29

0.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.87 $0.87

-17.24%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.8K $30.8K

-16.39%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$21.8K $21.8K

19.83%

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

$174 $174

$265 $265

-34.38%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$70.8 $70.8

-14.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$69.3 $69.3

-4.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.51 $42.51

47.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$12.83 $12.83

18.78%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,070 $1,070

29.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$15.7K $15.7K

40.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$50.8 $50.8

11.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$38.59 $38.59

17.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$84.8 $84.8

1.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$105 $105

13.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,014 $1,014

121.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,347 $1,347

6.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,781 $1,781

112.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,196 $2,196

20.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$1,886 $1,886

273.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$1,916 $1,916

64.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$2,965 $2,965

72.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.54

-1.38%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Silver City, NM: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,014 in Silver City, NM. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 72% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $57.0 in Silver City, NM for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $362 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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Silver City, NM. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 72% more on average, 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,014 in Silver City, NM. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,070 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 Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $57.0 in Silver City, NM. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,683 in Silver City, NM, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Austin, TX but tight or insufficient in Silver City, NM. The gap between the two cities makes Austin, TX 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Silver City, NM. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.