Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Tsu

For one person, living is cheaper in Tsu: $1,269 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $16,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Tsu
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,269
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,269 in Tsu.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Tsu $1,269

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,979 in Tsu.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Tsu $1,979

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,688 in Tsu.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Tsu $2,688

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 110% more expensive than in Tsu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Tsu is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Tsu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$6.48 ¥1,023
220.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$17.81 ¥2,814
374.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$3.84 ¥606
220.83%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$2.34 ¥370
140.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.19 ¥188
212.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.63 ¥98.8
296.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$2.00 ¥317
302.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$2.34 ¥369
285.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Tsu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.51 ¥238
-25.83%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.26 ¥199
197.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$5.42 ¥856
-39.85%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$1.99 ¥315
109.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$12.71 ¥2,008
1.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$9.73 ¥1,537
45.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$32.13 ¥5,076
-49.52%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$3.78 ¥596
14.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.28 ¥361
-35.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.23 ¥985
-27.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$4.19 ¥661
3.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$3.86 ¥610
-33.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$3.53 ¥558
-33.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.28 ¥202
39.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.01 ¥159
119.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$3.52 ¥557
180.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$8.02 ¥1,266
88.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.03 ¥321
43.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.45 ¥230
138.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Tsu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.50 ¥236
-0.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$52.4 ¥8,283
-20.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.17 ¥502
-13.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$3.08 ¥486
-46.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$26.27 ¥4,151
34.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.07 ¥169
-11.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$19.0K ¥3.0M
90.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$16.3K ¥2.6M
66.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Tsu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$147 ¥23.3K
55.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$24.31 ¥3,840
144.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$43.93 ¥6,940
59.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Tsu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$51.9 ¥8,195
10.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$12.83 ¥2,028
27.28%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$8.17 ¥1,290
74.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Tsu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$318 ¥50.3K
373.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$6,203 ¥980.0K
245.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Tsu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$49.88 ¥7,880
5.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$24.95 ¥3,941
75.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$44.99 ¥7,108
88.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$66.1 ¥10.4K
55.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Tsu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$521 ¥82.4K
265.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$327 ¥51.7K
289.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,113 ¥175.9K
229.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$726 ¥114.7K
249.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$4,165 ¥658.0K
82.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,745 ¥275.8K
80.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Tsu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$1,509 ¥238.4K
239.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
1.9
257.37%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Tsu: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Tsu
$327 74.3% $947
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Tsu
$384 5.1% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Tsu
$216 39.8% $143
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Tsu
$113 68% $241
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Tsu
$84 34.6% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Tsu
$68 20.5% $18
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Tsu
$77 31.2% $18

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $521 in Tsu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 239% 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 $18.00 in Tsu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $384 per month, with Tsu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇯🇵 Tsu
🕒 Local time
02:58 2:58 AM
16:58 4:58 PM
14 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
279,241
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, 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).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Tsu 10,820 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Tsu

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 Tsu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Tsu?
Tsu wins on cost – living expenses run 110% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tsu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Tsu?
Average pay runs 239% 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 Tsu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $521 in Tsu. 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 Tsu?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,269 in Tsu – a 110% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Tsu?
A monthly transit pass in Tsu runs roughly 26% 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 Tsu?
At $1,269 in Tsu versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tsu but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Tsu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Tsu?
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 Tsu?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Tsu 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 Tsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 110% 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

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