Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Tuguegarao

For one person, living is cheaper in Tuguegarao: $579 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $25,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Tuguegarao
🇵🇭 Philippines
$579
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $579 in Tuguegarao.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Tuguegarao $579

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $926 in Tuguegarao.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Tuguegarao $926

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $1,273 in Tuguegarao.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Tuguegarao $1,273

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 360% more expensive than in Tuguegarao, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Tuguegarao is 57% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Tuguegarao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$1.62 ₱102
1182.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$16.49 ₱1,038
412.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$2.86 ₱180
330.77%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$1.86 ₱117
202.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$0.44 ₱27.56
745.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.28 ₱17.48
792.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$0.98 ₱61.9
721.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$1.64 ₱103
449.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Tuguegarao
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.68 ₱106
-33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.15 ₱72.5
226.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$0.75 ₱47.44
334.67%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$2.02 ₱127
106.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$5.08 ₱320
153.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$3.46 ₱218
309.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$7.69 ₱484
110.92%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$2.31 ₱145
87.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.61 ₱101
-9.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.34 ₱148
92.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.07 ₱67.3
305.61%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.75 ₱110
47.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.73 ₱109
35.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$0.62 ₱38.79
187.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.53 ₱33.17
318.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$1.94 ₱122
409.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$8.77 ₱552
71.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$0.97 ₱61.2
201.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.09 ₱132
65.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Tuguegarao
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.26 ₱16.09
473.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$10.09 ₱635
313.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$0.78 ₱48.85
250.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.23 ₱14.42
621.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$1.96 ₱123
1701.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.08 ₱68.2
-12.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$21.2K ₱1.3M
69.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$19.6K ₱1.2M
38.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Tuguegarao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$31.55 ₱1,987
625.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$17.41 ₱1,096
241.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$23.02 ₱1,449
203.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Tuguegarao
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$32.30 ₱2,033
77.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$4.57 ₱288
257.33%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$5.30 ₱334
169.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Tuguegarao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$134 ₱8,446
1022.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$10.6K ₱669.6K
101.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Tuguegarao
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$28.57 ₱1,799
84.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$19.36 ₱1,219
126.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$39.20 ₱2,468
116.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$23.67 ₱1,490
335.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Tuguegarao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$265 ₱16.7K
620.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$171 ₱10.8K
645.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$522 ₱32.9K
602.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$359 ₱22.6K
607.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$2,452 ₱154.4K
210.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,035 ₱65.2K
204.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Tuguegarao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$207 ₱13.0K
2373.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
6.75
0.59%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Tuguegarao: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Tuguegarao
$171 86.6% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Tuguegarao
$175 56.7% $230
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Tuguegarao
$72 79.9% $286
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Tuguegarao
$55 84.5% $299
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Tuguegarao
$50 61% $78
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Tuguegarao
$43 50% $43
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Tuguegarao
$13 77.8% $46

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $265 in Tuguegarao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 2374% 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 $16.00 in Tuguegarao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $175 per month, with Tuguegarao cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇵🇭 Tuguegarao
🕒 Local time
15:12 3:12 PM
04:12 4:12 AM
13 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
166,334
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.79 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Tuguegarao 13,220 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Tuguegarao

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 Tuguegarao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Tuguegarao?
Tuguegarao wins on cost – living expenses run 360% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tuguegarao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Tuguegarao?
Average pay runs 2374% 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 Tuguegarao?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $265 in Tuguegarao. 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 Tuguegarao?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $579 in Tuguegarao – a 360% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Tuguegarao?
A monthly transit pass in Tuguegarao runs roughly 313% 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 $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Tuguegarao?
At $579 in Tuguegarao versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tuguegarao but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Tuguegarao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Tuguegarao?
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 Tuguegarao?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Tuguegarao 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 Tuguegarao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 360% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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