Cost of Living Comparison Between Carlsbad, NM and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Carlsbad, NM and Austin, TX

🙂 Solo nomad: Carlsbad, NM is 15.7% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 7.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Carlsbad, NM is 25.3% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 15.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Carlsbad, NM
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.11 $19.11
$19.64 $19.64
-2.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.58 $49.58
$76.2 $76.2
-34.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.15 $12.15
$9.95 $9.95
22.11%
Cappuccino
$6.1 $6.1
$5.61 $5.61
8.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.64 $2.64
-21.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 $1.26
$2.19 $2.19
-42.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.11 $5.11
$5.84 $5.84
-12.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.18 $6.18
$7.92 $7.92
-21.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Carlsbad, NM
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.13 $1.13
-21.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 $2.45
$3.3 $3.3
-25.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$3.5 $3.5
-44.57%
Eggs
$3.56 $3.56
$4.4 $4.4
-19.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.09 $8.09
$12 $12
-32.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.89 $9.89
$10.68 $10.68
-7.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 $12.14
$14.73 $14.73
-17.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.96 $2.96
$4.88 $4.88
-39.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.1 $1.1
$1.52 $1.52
-27.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.09 $4.09
$4.53 $4.53
-9.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.92 $3.92
-35.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.72 $2.72
-5.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.76 $2.76
-31.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.01 $2.01
13.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.18 $2.18
-29.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.14 $12.14
$8.86 $8.86
37.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.21 $15.21
$14.96 $14.96
1.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.34 $2.34
-9.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.8 $4.8
$3.44 $3.44
39.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Carlsbad, NM
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.48 $1.48
37.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$42.82 $42.82
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 $1.62
$4.3 $4.3
-62.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.6 $1.6
$1.82 $1.82
-12.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.44 $27.44
$34.63 $34.63
-20.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 $0.74
$0.73 $0.73
1.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K $18.6K
$25.5K $25.5K
-26.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$26.3K $26.3K
-4.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Carlsbad, NM
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$168 $168
$177 $177
-4.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.8 $64.8
$58.9 $58.9
10.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.4 $63.4
$64.8 $64.8
-2.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Carlsbad, NM
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.78 $42.78
$62.6 $62.6
-31.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.17 $10.17
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.58 $11.58
$14.72 $14.72
-21.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Carlsbad, NM
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$583 $583
$1,378 $1,378
-57.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,058 $7,058
$22.4K $22.4K
-68.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Carlsbad, NM
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.92 $39.92
$56.3 $56.3
-29.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.38 $43.38
$46.46 $46.46
-6.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97 $97
$86.7 $86.7
11.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9 $80.9
$119 $119
-31.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Carlsbad, NM
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,620 $1,620
$2,188 $2,188
-25.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,373 $1,373
$1,395 $1,395
-1.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,585 $2,585
$3,896 $3,896
-33.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,215 $2,215
$2,689 $2,689
-17.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,444 $2,444
$4,414 $4,414
-44.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,140 $2,140
$3,161 $3,161
-32.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Carlsbad, NM
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,149 $4,149
$4,871 $4,871
-14.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.25
6.45
-49.61%

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

Last update for Carlsbad, NM: October 29, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.