Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Tepic

For one person, living is cheaper in Tepic: $1,100 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $18,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Tepic
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,100
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,100 in Tepic.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Tepic $1,100

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,808 in Tepic.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Tepic $1,808

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,516 in Tepic.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Tepic $2,516

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 142% more expensive than in Tepic, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Tepic is 18% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Tepic
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$13.45 MX$249
54.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$44.40 MX$820
90.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$9.21 MX$170
33.77%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$3.24 MX$59.9
73.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.73 MX$31.90
115.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.23 MX$22.64
103.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$2.81 MX$51.9
186.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$5.02 MX$92.8
79.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Tepic
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.51 MX$27.89
-25.83%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$2.45 MX$45.20
53.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.69 MX$31.24
92.90%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$2.11 MX$38.94
97.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$4.90 MX$90.5
163.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$9.48 MX$175
49.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$11.69 MX$216
38.75%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$2.81 MX$52.0
54.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.58 MX$29.26
-7.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.98 MX$36.53
127.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.82 MX$33.72
138.46%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.02 MX$37.37
27.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.83 MX$33.77
28.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.46 MX$26.98
21.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.07 MX$19.83
107.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$4.26 MX$78.8
131.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$10.56 MX$195
42.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$0.78 MX$14.44
274.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$3.36 MX$62.1
2.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Tepic
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.83 MX$15.42
79.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.24 MX$41.34
21.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.33 MX$24.65
24.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$12.03 MX$222
193.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.43 MX$26.37
-33.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$21.2K MX$392.2K
69.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$23.9K MX$441.4K
13.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Tepic
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$44.05 MX$814
419.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$12.13 MX$224
389.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$30.94 MX$572
125.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Tepic
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$34.03 MX$629
68.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$20.32 MX$376
-19.64%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$6.62 MX$122
115.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Tepic
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$253 MX$4,676
495.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$10.7K MX$198.2K
100.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Tepic
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$59.8 MX$1,105
-11.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$39.45 MX$729
11.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$108 MX$1,998
-21.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$83.4 MX$1,542
23.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Tepic
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$518 MX$9,568
268.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$360 MX$6,658
253.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,027 MX$19.0K
256.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$752 MX$13.9K
237.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$1,837 MX$33.9K
314.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,128 MX$20.8K
179.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Tepic
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$657 MX$12.1K
679.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
11.68
-41.87%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Tepic: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Tepic
$360 71.7% $914
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Tepic
$253 37.5% $152
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Tepic
$87 75.7% $271
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Tepic
$210 40.7% $144
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Tepic
$131 2.3% $2.9
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Tepic
$47 44.9% $39
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Tepic
$12 * 79.1% $46

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $518 in Tepic. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 680% 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 $44.00 in Tepic for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $253 per month, with Tepic cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇲🇽 Tepic
🕒 Local time
23:56 11:56 PM
21:56 9:56 PM
2 h behind Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
371,387
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Tepic 1,210 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Tepic

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 Tepic: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Tepic?
Tepic wins on cost – living expenses run 142% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tepic the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Tepic?
Average pay runs 680% 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 Tepic?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $518 in Tepic. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Austin, TX and in Tepic?
Childcare runs $1,506 in Austin, TX versus $253 in Tepic. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Austin, TX and in Tepic?
Dining out is cheaper in Tepic – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Tepic?
At $1,100 in Tepic versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tepic but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Tepic the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Tepic?
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.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Tepic?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Tepic are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tepic gentler on the wallet – expenses run 142% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?