Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Broken Hill and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Broken Hill: $2,528 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Austin, TX outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Broken Hill
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,528
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Broken Hill 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 Broken Hill and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,528 in Broken Hill versus $2,704 in Austin, TX.

  • Broken Hill $2,528
  • Austin, TX $2,704

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,595 in Broken Hill versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Broken Hill $3,595
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,662 in Broken Hill versus $5,562 in Austin, TX.

  • Broken Hill $4,662
  • Austin, TX $5,562

Living in Broken Hill costs roughly 6% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Broken Hill 89% above, Austin, TX 102% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Broken Hill
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.24 A$27.63
$20.22 $20.22
-4.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.4 A$126
$85.0 $85.0
2.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.70 A$15.37
$12.35 $12.35
-13.36%
Cappuccino
$4.39 A$6.30
$5.47 $5.47
-19.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 A$4.08
$3.82 $3.82
-25.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 A$3.14
$2.50 $2.50
-12.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.53 A$9.37
$8.06 $8.06
-18.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.79 A$12.62
$8.99 $8.99
-2.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Broken Hill
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 A$2.04
$1.13 $1.13
25.66%
White Bread (500g)
$2.48 A$3.57
$3.78 $3.78
-34.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.33 A$3.34
$3.25 $3.25
-28.31%
Eggs
$5.02 A$7.21
$4.14 $4.14
21.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.78 A$12.62
$13.08 $13.08
-32.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.33 A$11.97
$14.31 $14.31
-41.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.89 A$22.83
$15.96 $15.96
-0.44%
Apples (1kg)
$4.43 A$6.36
$4.38 $4.38
1.14%
Banana (1kg)
$2.63 A$3.78
$1.45 $1.45
81.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.65 A$5.24
$4.54 $4.54
-19.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.95 A$7.10
$4.19 $4.19
18.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.37 A$3.41
$2.63 $2.63
-9.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 A$3.20
$2.36 $2.36
-5.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.50 A$3.59
$1.76 $1.76
42.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 A$2.51
$2.16 $2.16
-18.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$43.62 A$62.7
$9.81 $9.81
344.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.81 A$18.40
$14.72 $14.72
-12.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.54 A$6.51
$2.78 $2.78
63.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.72 A$6.79
$3.48 $3.48
35.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Broken Hill
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.88 A$4.14
$1.49 $1.49
93.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.0 A$128
$40.51 $40.51
119.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 A$4.55
$2.67 $2.67
18.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 A$2.00
$1.58 $1.58
-12.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.43 A$63.8
$35.29 $35.29
25.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 A$1.92
$0.99 $0.99
35.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K A$36.2K
$35.8K $35.8K
-29.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K A$42.1K
$27.2K $27.2K
7.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Broken Hill
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 A$313
$219 $219
-0.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.10 A$44.68
$58.0 $58.0
-46.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.2 A$72.1
$68.4 $68.4
-26.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Broken Hill
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 A$88.0
$57.9 $57.9
5.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.54 A$28.07
$14.82 $14.82
31.85%
Cinema Ticket
$12.84 A$18.44
$14.13 $14.13
-9.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Broken Hill
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,450 A$3,519
$1,509 $1,509
62.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.1K A$31.7K
$21.5K $21.5K
2.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Broken Hill
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.2 A$117
$51.7 $51.7
57.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.4 A$89.7
$44.05 $44.05
41.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 A$153
$85.1 $85.1
25.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 A$194
$105 $105
28.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Broken Hill
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,464 A$2,103
$1,932 $1,932
-24.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,124 A$1,614
$1,272 $1,272
-11.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,828 A$2,625
$3,670 $3,670
-50.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,954 A$2,807
$2,525 $2,525
-22.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,374 A$7,720
$7,617 $7,617
-29.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,529 A$7,941
$3,199 $3,199
72.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Broken Hill
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,105 $5,105
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.84
6.79
-13.99%

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

Last update for Broken Hill: October 3, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Broken Hill
$1.1K
Austin, TX
$1.3K 13.2% $149
Groceries & Markets
Broken Hill
$362
Austin, TX
$403 11.4% $41
Eating Out
Broken Hill
$309
Austin, TX
$348 12.7% $39
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Broken Hill
$299
Austin, TX
$346 15.5% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Broken Hill
$173
Austin, TX
$129 25.8% $45
Getting Around
Broken Hill
$111
Austin, TX
$57 48.5% $54
Sport & Entertainment
Broken Hill
$87
Austin, TX
$86 0.9% $0.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,464 in Broken Hill and $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $87.0 in Broken Hill vs $85.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $362 vs $403, with Broken Hill cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Broken Hill
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
14:17 2:17 PM
22:47 10:47 PM
15 h 30 min behind Broken Hill
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
17,456
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.696 USD). 1 EUR = 1.61 AUD (1 AUD = 0.621 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
  • Broken Hill Austin, TX 14,450 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Broken Hill
  • 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
Broken Hill vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Broken Hill or Austin, TX?
Broken Hill 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 Broken Hill the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Broken Hill and in Austin, TX?
You'd need roughly $3,792 in Broken Hill and $4,055 in Austin, TX 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 Broken Hill compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,464 in Broken Hill 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 Broken Hill compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $2,528 per month in Broken Hill 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 Broken Hill compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Broken Hill runs roughly 120% 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 $2,500/month in Broken Hill or in Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Broken Hill 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: Broken Hill 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.
How safe is Broken Hill compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Broken Hill and Austin, TX 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 Broken Hill 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.

Broken Hill vs other spots: cost of living compared

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