Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,831 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $4,231 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $5,630 in Vancouver.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 6% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Vancouver 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$18.26 CA$25.37

7.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$77.8 CA$108

-3.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.85 CA$15.08

-8.57%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$3.98 CA$5.53

42.46%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.12 CA$2.94

30.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.78 CA$2.47

21.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.77 CA$8.02

1.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$7.56 CA$10.50

2.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$2.32 CA$3.23

-53.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.10 CA$4.30

10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.89 CA$5.40

-11.83%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.53 CA$6.29

-3.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$12.92 CA$17.95

-7.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$14.14 CA$19.65

-23.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$15.74 CA$21.87

-9.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.26 CA$5.91

13.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.47 CA$2.04

5.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.02 CA$5.59

10.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.06 CA$7.03

-22.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.02 CA$4.20

-9.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.95 CA$4.10

-7.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.60 CA$3.61

-21.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.88 CA$2.61

19.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$15.20 CA$21.12

-41.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.30 CA$19.86

3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$3.07 CA$4.27

-23.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.74 CA$5.20

-4.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.44 CA$3.39

-39.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$84.9 CA$118

-49.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.74 CA$5.19

14.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.50 CA$2.09

22.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$27.43 CA$38.11

29.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.34 CA$1.86

-46.27%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.1K CA$34.9K

2.43%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$20.7K CA$28.8K

26.17%

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

$174 $174

$91.8 CA$128

89.20%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$39.42 CA$54.8

52.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$61.1 CA$84.9

8.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$44.89 CA$62.4

39.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$15.68 CA$21.79

-37.31%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$12.37 CA$17.18

23.20%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,180 CA$1,640

17.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$18.8K CA$26.1K

18.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$62.7 CA$87.1

-9.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$43.13 CA$59.9

5.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$94.7 CA$132

-8.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$118 CA$164

0.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,995 CA$2,771

12.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,629 CA$2,264

-12.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$3,589 CA$4,986

5.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,769 CA$3,848

-4.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$9,246 CA$12.8K

-23.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$7,086 CA$9,845

-55.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,474 CA$4,827

47.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

5.61

14.97%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 47% 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 $78.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $415 per month, with Austin, TX 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 Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Vancouver. 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 47% 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 $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,831 in Vancouver – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 97% less than in Vancouver. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 6% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.