Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barrie and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Barrie: $2,516 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Barrie
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,516
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Barrie and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,516 in Barrie versus $2,704 in Austin, TX.

  • Barrie $2,516
  • Austin, TX $2,704

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,464 in Barrie versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Barrie $3,464
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,413 in Barrie versus $5,562 in Austin, TX.

  • Barrie $4,413
  • Austin, TX $5,562

Living in Barrie costs roughly 7% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barrie 88% above, Austin, TX 102% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barrie
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.06 CA$20.05
$20.22 $20.22
-30.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2 CA$81.6
$85.0 $85.0
-32.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.11 CA$15.84
$12.35 $12.35
-10.04%
Cappuccino
$3.66 CA$5.22
$5.47 $5.47
-33.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 CA$2.71
$3.82 $3.82
-50.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 CA$2.08
$2.50 $2.50
-41.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.99 CA$7.11
$8.06 $8.06
-38.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46 CA$7.78
$8.99 $8.99
-39.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barrie
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 CA$2.90
$1.13 $1.13
79.65%
White Bread (500g)
$2.48 CA$3.53
$3.78 $3.78
-34.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 CA$3.79
$3.25 $3.25
-18.15%
Eggs
$2.91 CA$4.15
$4.14 $4.14
-29.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.70 CA$13.82
$13.08 $13.08
-25.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.10 CA$20.10
$14.31 $14.31
-1.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.09 CA$31.48
$15.96 $15.96
38.41%
Apples (1kg)
$4.04 CA$5.76
$4.38 $4.38
-7.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 CA$1.66
$1.45 $1.45
-20.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.02 CA$4.31
$4.54 $4.54
-33.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 CA$5.47
$4.19 $4.19
-8.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 CA$1.54
$2.63 $2.63
-58.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 CA$1.92
$2.36 $2.36
-43.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 CA$2.93
$1.76 $1.76
17.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 CA$2.38
$2.16 $2.16
-22.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.32 CA$16.13
$9.81 $9.81
15.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.07 CA$14.36
$14.72 $14.72
-31.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 CA$3.49
$2.78 $2.78
-11.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 CA$3.01
$3.48 $3.48
-39.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Barrie
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.43 CA$3.46
$1.49 $1.49
63.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.9 CA$91.1
$40.51 $40.51
57.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 CA$5.08
$2.67 $2.67
33.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 CA$1.53
$1.58 $1.58
-32.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$35.29 $35.29
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 CA$1.63
$0.99 $0.99
15.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K CA$39.8K
$35.8K $35.8K
-22.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K CA$29.1K
$27.2K $27.2K
-24.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barrie
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$230 CA$328
$219 $219
4.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.39 CA$49.02
$58.0 $58.0
-40.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.8 CA$108
$68.4 $68.4
10.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barrie
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.44 CA$56.2
$57.9 $57.9
-31.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.99 CA$49.88
$14.82 $14.82
136.10%
Cinema Ticket
$12.72 CA$18.13
$14.13 $14.13
-9.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barrie
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,382 CA$1,970
$1,509 $1,509
-8.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$21.5K $21.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barrie
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 CA$90.6
$51.7 $51.7
23.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.59 CA$62.1
$44.05 $44.05
-1.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$148 CA$211
$85.1 $85.1
73.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.0 CA$120
$105 $105
-20.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barrie
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 CA$2,034
$1,932 $1,932
-26.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 CA$1,736
$1,272 $1,272
-4.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,051 CA$2,923
$3,670 $3,670
-44.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,786 CA$2,546
$2,525 $2,525
-29.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,955 CA$7,062
$7,617 $7,617
-34.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,122 CA$5,875
$3,199 $3,199
28.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barrie
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,020 CA$4,305
$5,105 $5,105
-40.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.68
6.79
-31.08%

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

Last update for Barrie: October 6, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barrie
$1.2K
Austin, TX
$1.3K 4.5% $54
Groceries & Markets
Barrie
$362
Austin, TX
$403 11.1% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barrie
$340
Austin, TX
$346 1.7% $5.6
Eating Out
Barrie
$239
Austin, TX
$348 45.5% $109
Clothing & Footwear
Barrie
$153
Austin, TX
$129 15.6% $24
Getting Around
Barrie
$83
Austin, TX
$57 31% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Barrie
$65
Austin, TX
$86 32.8% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,427 in Barrie and $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 69% 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: $57.0 in Barrie vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $362 vs $403 per month, with Barrie cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Barrie
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
01:27 1:27 AM
00:27 12:27 AM
1 h behind Barrie
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
141,434
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barrie Austin, TX 2,230 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Barrie
  • Austin, TX

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
Barrie vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Barrie or Austin, TX?
Barrie wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Barrie the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Barrie or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 69% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Barrie compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,427 in Barrie versus $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Barrie compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $2,516 per month in Barrie versus $2,704 in Austin, TX – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Barrie compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Barrie runs roughly 58% 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 Barrie or in Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Barrie is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Barrie or Austin, TX?
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 Barrie gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% 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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