Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ecatepec and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Ecatepec: $961 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $20,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ecatepec
🇲🇽 Mexico
$961
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $961 in Ecatepec versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Ecatepec $961
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,670 in Ecatepec versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Ecatepec $1,670
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,380 in Ecatepec versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Ecatepec $2,380
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Ecatepec costs roughly 64% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ecatepec is 29% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ecatepec
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.14 MX$206
$20.77 $20.77
-46.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.1 MX$926
$84.6 $84.6
-40.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.57 MX$177
$12.32 $12.32
-22.32%
Cappuccino
$3.71 MX$68.6
$5.63 $5.63
-34.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$30.02
$3.72 $3.72
-56.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.09
$2.50 $2.50
-56.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.38 MX$62.5
$8.05 $8.05
-58.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.59 MX$103
$9.01 $9.01
-37.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ecatepec
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$31.71
$1.12 $1.12
53.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.66 MX$49.12
$3.75 $3.75
-29.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 MX$36.17
$3.26 $3.26
-39.88%
Eggs
$2.75 MX$50.9
$4.17 $4.17
-34.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.82 MX$163
$12.90 $12.90
-31.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.12 MX$168
$14.16 $14.16
-35.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.47 MX$249
$16.22 $16.22
-16.95%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 MX$58.0
$4.33 $4.33
-27.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 MX$30.74
$1.46 $1.46
13.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 MX$37.65
$4.51 $4.51
-54.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.12
$4.34 $4.34
-56.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$33.16
$2.58 $2.58
-30.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.75 MX$32.42
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 MX$27.48
$1.78 $1.78
-16.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 MX$21.95
$2.22 $2.22
-46.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.59 MX$84.9
$9.88 $9.88
-53.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.62 MX$307
$15.08 $15.08
10.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 MX$35.43
$2.92 $2.92
-34.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 MX$70.7
$3.46 $3.46
10.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Ecatepec
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 MX$11.72
$1.49 $1.49
-57.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.01 MX$573
$41.72 $41.72
-25.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 MX$36.81
$2.73 $2.73
-27.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 MX$9.68
$1.66 $1.66
-68.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.32 MX$98.3
$35.30 $35.30
-84.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$28.48
$0.95 $0.95
62.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K MX$397.7K
$36.0K $36.0K
-40.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$434.5K
$27.1K $27.1K
-13.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ecatepec
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.7 MX$1,067
$229 $229
-74.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.01 MX$499
$59.4 $59.4
-54.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.74 MX$457
$69.9 $69.9
-64.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ecatepec
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.37 MX$487
$57.2 $57.2
-53.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.00 MX$203
$16.33 $16.33
-32.64%
Cinema Ticket
$6.47 MX$120
$14.28 $14.28
-54.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ecatepec
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$270 MX$4,996
$1,506 $1,506
-82.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,048 MX$93.3K
$21.5K $21.5K
-76.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ecatepec
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1 MX$1,092
$52.8 $52.8
11.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.94 MX$830
$43.82 $43.82
2.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 MX$1,855
$84.8 $84.8
18.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 MX$1,826
$103 $103
-4.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ecatepec
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$243 MX$4,487
$1,907 $1,907
-87.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$138 MX$2,550
$1,274 $1,274
-89.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$683 MX$12.6K
$3,664 $3,664
-81.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$444 MX$8,205
$2,538 $2,538
-82.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$755 MX$14.0K
$7,614 $7,614
-90.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$755 MX$13.9K
$3,157 $3,157
-76.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ecatepec
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$553 MX$10.2K
$5,121 $5,121
-89.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
6.79
66.42%

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

Last update for Ecatepec: October 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ecatepec
$298
Austin, TX
$405 35.8% $107
Eating Out
Ecatepec
$201
Austin, TX
$354 75.8% $153
Accommodation & Living
Ecatepec
$138
Austin, TX
$1.3K 823% $1.1K
Clothing & Footwear
Ecatepec
$136
Austin, TX
$128 6.2% $8.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ecatepec
$109
Austin, TX
$358 227% $249
Sport & Entertainment
Ecatepec
$39
Austin, TX
$86 118% $46
Getting Around
Ecatepec
$38
Austin, TX
$59 53.8% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Ecatepec and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 826% 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: $50.0 in Ecatepec vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $405 per month, with Ecatepec cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Ecatepec
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
05:45 5:45 AM
06:45 6:45 AM
1 h ahead of Ecatepec
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,645,352
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

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

On the map
Between locations
  • Ecatepec Austin, TX 1,190 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ecatepec
  • 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
Ecatepec vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ecatepec or Austin, TX?
Ecatepec wins on cost – living expenses run 177% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ecatepec the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ecatepec or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 826% 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 Ecatepec compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $243 in Ecatepec versus $1,907 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 Ecatepec compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $961 per month in Ecatepec versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 177% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ecatepec compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Ecatepec runs roughly 35% 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 $2,000/month in Ecatepec or in Austin, TX?
At $961 in Ecatepec versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ecatepec but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Ecatepec the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ecatepec 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 Ecatepec gentler on the wallet – expenses run 177% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ecatepec vs other spots: cost of living compared

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