Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between El Nido and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in El Nido: $739 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $23,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

36

Cost of Living Index in El Nido
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El Nido Living Index
129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

Jump to prices

El Nido

🇵🇭 Philippines

$739

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,698

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $739 in El Nido versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

El Nido $739
Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,148 in El Nido versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

El Nido $1,148
Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,557 in El Nido versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

El Nido $1,557
Austin, TX $5,622

Living in El Nido costs roughly 73% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: El Nido is 45% below, Austin, TX is 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.84 ₱305

$20.63 $20.63

-76.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.13 ₱1,771

$84.6 $84.6

-66.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.70 ₱233

$12.07 $12.07

-69.35%

Cappuccino

$2.25 ₱142

$5.48 $5.48

-58.94%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₱73.8

$3.80 $3.80

-69.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱20.45

$2.47 $2.47

-87.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ₱81.8

$8.05 $8.05

-83.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ₱125

$8.88 $8.88

-77.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ₱100

$1.11 $1.11

43.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 ₱63.1

$3.72 $3.72

-73.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 ₱81.4

$3.37 $3.37

-61.72%

Eggs

$1.95 ₱123

$4.32 $4.32

-54.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.33 ₱336

$13.13 $13.13

-59.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.98 ₱250

$14.15 $14.15

-71.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.98 ₱439

$16.33 $16.33

-57.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 ₱142

$4.55 $4.55

-50.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 ₱97.1

$1.46 $1.46

5.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱142

$4.71 $4.71

-52.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱72.8

$4.15 $4.15

-72.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 ₱123

$2.58 $2.58

-24.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 ₱127

$2.35 $2.35

-14.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱58.0

$1.77 $1.77

-48.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.65

$2.14 $2.14

-75.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱211

$10.10 $10.10

-66.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.24 ₱456

$15.19 $15.19

-52.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₱62.9

$2.82 $2.82

-64.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ₱118

$3.44 $3.44

-45.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₱15.07

$1.54 $1.54

-84.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.28 ₱648

$40.99 $40.99

-74.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱53.8

$2.80 $2.80

-69.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 ₱12.47

$1.60 $1.60

-87.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 ₱108

$34.34 $34.34

-94.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ₱82.3

$0.94 $0.94

39.36%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.2K ₱1.2M

$34.0K $34.0K

-43.55%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.6K ₱1.4M

$26.8K $26.8K

-19.32%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$121 ₱7,638

$223 $223

-45.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.38 ₱906

$58.9 $58.9

-75.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.44 ₱1,539

$70.6 $70.6

-65.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.90 ₱2,197

$57.7 $57.7

-39.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.99 ₱251

$16.53 $16.53

-75.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.23 ₱329

$14.26 $14.26

-63.32%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$124 ₱7,818

$1,511 $1,511

-91.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,869 ₱432.4K

$20.9K $20.9K

-67.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.86 ₱2,132

$51.3 $51.3

-33.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.81 ₱1,185

$44.17 $44.17

-57.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.9 ₱4,211

$87.0 $87.0

-23.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.95 ₱3,145

$104 $104

-52.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₱17.0K

$1,940 $1,940

-86.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₱11.2K

$1,316 $1,316

-86.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$535 ₱33.7K

$3,664 $3,664

-85.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$358 ₱22.5K

$2,565 $2,565

-86.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,607 ₱164.1K

$7,354 $7,354

-64.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$900 ₱56.7K

$3,129 $3,129

-71.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$257 ₱16.2K

$5,286 $5,286

-95.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

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

Last update for El Nido: October 19, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

El Nido

$177 24%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.8% 643% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

El Nido

$174 23.6%

Austin, TX

$406 15.1% 133% $232

Monthly Utilities & Internet

El Nido

$160 21.7%

Austin, TX

$352 13.1% 120% $192

Eating Out

El Nido

$93 12.6%

Austin, TX

$350 13% 275% $257

Clothing & Footwear

El Nido

$76 10.3%

Austin, TX

$129 4.8% 69.2% $53

Sport & Entertainment

El Nido

$45 6.1%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 90.1% $41

Getting Around

El Nido

$13 1.8%

Austin, TX

$58 2.2% 343% $45

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in El Nido and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 1960% 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: $28.00 in El Nido vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $406 per month, with El Nido cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇭 El Nido

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

00:08 12:08 AM

11:08 11:08 AM

13 h behind El Nido

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

50,494

974,447

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

El Nido Austin, TX 13,930 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight

From you

El Nido
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

El Nido vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Nido wins on cost – living expenses run 265% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making El Nido the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 1960% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $269 in El Nido versus $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $739 per month in El Nido versus $2,698 in Austin, TX – a 265% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in El Nido runs roughly 299% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $739 in El Nido versus $2,698 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in El Nido but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes El Nido the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, El Nido 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.

Expats usually find El Nido gentler on the wallet – expenses run 265% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.