Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Vernon, BC

For one person, living is cheaper in Vernon, BC: $2,144 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Vernon, BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,144
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Vernon, BC

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $2,144 in Vernon, BC.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Vernon, BC $2,144

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $3,103 in Vernon, BC.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Vernon, BC $3,103

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $4,062 in Vernon, BC.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Vernon, BC $4,062

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 24% more expensive than in Vernon, BC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 97% above, Vernon, BC 59% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Vernon, BC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$13.81 CA$19.53
50.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$58.8 CA$83.1
43.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$10.63 CA$15.03
15.90%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$3.49 CA$4.94
61.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.83 CA$2.59
103.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.56 CA$2.20
60.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$5.50 CA$7.78
46.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$6.26 CA$8.85
43.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Vernon, BC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$2.65 CA$3.75
-57.74%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$2.96 CA$4.19
26.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.10 CA$4.39
5.16%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$3.57 CA$5.05
16.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$9.52 CA$13.46
35.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$10.12 CA$14.30
39.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$21.21 CA$29.99
-23.53%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$3.78 CA$5.35
14.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.33 CA$1.88
9.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.74 CA$8.11
-21.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$5.05 CA$7.14
-14.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.63 CA$3.72
-1.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.77 CA$3.91
-15.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.45 CA$3.47
-27.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.44 CA$2.03
54.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$13.15 CA$18.59
-24.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$16.63 CA$23.51
-9.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.13 CA$4.43
-6.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$4.25 CA$6.01
-18.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Vernon, BC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.84 CA$2.60
-19.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$38.90 CA$55.0
7.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.08 CA$2.94
31.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.22 CA$1.73
-22.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$24.9K CA$35.1K
45.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$18.4K CA$26.0K
47.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Vernon, BC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$134 CA$189
71.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$28.40 CA$40.15
109.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$55.6 CA$78.6
25.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Vernon, BC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$34.81 CA$49.22
64.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$14.75 CA$20.85
10.71%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$10.12 CA$14.31
41.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Vernon, BC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$143 CA$202
955.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$8,515 CA$12.0K
151.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Vernon, BC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$57.2 CA$80.8
-7.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$37.06 CA$52.4
18.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$85.9 CA$121
-1.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$74.6 CA$106
38.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Vernon, BC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$1,088 CA$1,539
75.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$1,072 CA$1,515
18.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,754 CA$2,480
108.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$1,652 CA$2,336
53.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$5,968 CA$8,437
27.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$4,763 CA$6,733
-33.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Vernon, BC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$2,992 CA$4,230
71.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
4.58
48.25%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Vernon, BC: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Vernon, BC
$1.1K 15.9% $202
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Vernon, BC
$399 1.5% $6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Vernon, BC
$218 39.2% $141
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Vernon, BC
$238 32.8% $116
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Vernon, BC
$115 10.4% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Vernon, BC
$55 35.8% $31
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Vernon, BC
$48 * 17.6% $10

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 $1,088 in Vernon, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 71% 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 $59.0 in Vernon, BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $399 per month, with Vernon, BC cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇨🇦 Vernon, BC
🕒 Local time
23:10 11:10 PM
21:10 9:10 PM
2 h behind Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
40,116
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Vernon, BC 2,860 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Vernon, BC

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 Vernon, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Vernon, BC?
Vernon, BC wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Vernon, BC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Vernon, BC?
Average pay runs 71% 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 Vernon, BC?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $1,088 in Vernon, BC. 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 Vernon, BC?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,144 in Vernon, BC – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Vernon, BC?
A monthly transit pass in Vernon, BC runs roughly 7% 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 $3,000/month in Austin, TX or in Vernon, BC?
At $2,144 in Vernon, BC versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Vernon, BC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Vernon, BC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Vernon, BC?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Vernon, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% 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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