Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Ube

For one person, living is cheaper in Ube: $1,237 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $17,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Ube
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,237
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,237 in Ube.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Ube $1,237

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,931 in Ube.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Ube $1,931

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,625 in Ube.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Ube $2,625

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 115% more expensive than in Ube, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Ube is 8% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Ube
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$6.94 ¥1,097
199.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$34.14 ¥5,394
147.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$5.52 ¥873
123.19%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$3.19 ¥504
76.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.08 ¥171
244.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.76 ¥121
228.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$2.03 ¥321
296.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$3.08 ¥487
192.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Ube
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.51 ¥239
-25.83%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.60 ¥252
134.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$4.73 ¥747
-31.08%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$2.28 ¥361
82.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$10.00 ¥1,581
29.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$6.43 ¥1,016
120.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$15.58 ¥2,462
4.11%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$5.41 ¥854
-19.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.63 ¥415
-44.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.07 ¥643
10.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$4.59 ¥725
-5.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$3.17 ¥500
-18.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.67 ¥422
-11.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.38 ¥218
28.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.87 ¥138
155.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$4.20 ¥664
135.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$6.56 ¥1,036
129.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.00 ¥316
46.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.37 ¥374
45.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Ube
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.66 ¥263
-10.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$55.6 ¥8,781
-24.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.52 ¥556
-22.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$3.00 ¥474
-44.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$20.87 ¥3,297
69.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.18 ¥187
-19.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$22.8K ¥3.6M
57.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$17.1K ¥2.7M
58.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Ube
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$142 ¥22.5K
61.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$27.17 ¥4,293
118.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$33.35 ¥5,268
109.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Ube
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$57.6 ¥9,103
-0.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$13.79 ¥2,179
18.42%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$13.14 ¥2,076
8.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Ube
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$280 ¥44.2K
438.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$13.3K ¥2.1M
60.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Ube
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$43.41 ¥6,859
21.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$30.01 ¥4,741
46.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$59.1 ¥9,343
43.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$92.3 ¥14.6K
11.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Ube
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$473 ¥74.7K
303.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$326 ¥51.4K
291.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$869 ¥137.3K
321.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$660 ¥104.3K
284.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$2,817 ¥445.1K
170.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,733 ¥273.7K
82.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Ube
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
1.81
275.14%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Ube: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Ube
$326 74.4% $948
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Ube
$309 23.7% $96
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Ube
$203 43.4% $156
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Ube
$134 62.1% $220
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Ube
$101 20.9% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Ube
$84 2.2% $1.9
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Ube
$81 37.6% $22

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $473 in Ube. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $34.00 in Ube for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $309 per month, with Ube cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇯🇵 Ube
🕒 Local time
10:03 10:03 AM
00:03 12:03 AM
14 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
162,570
💱 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 Ube 11,220 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Ube

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 Ube: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Ube?
Ube wins on cost – living expenses run 115% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ube the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Ube?
You'd need roughly $3,995 in Austin, TX and $1,856 in Ube to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Ube?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $473 in Ube. 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 Ube?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,237 in Ube – a 115% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Ube?
A monthly transit pass in Ube runs roughly 33% 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 $1,500/month in Austin, TX or in Ube?
At $1,237 in Ube versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ube but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Ube the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Ube?
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 Ube?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Ube 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 Ube gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% 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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