Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Glasgow and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Glasgow: $2,386 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Glasgow
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,386
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,386 in Glasgow versus $2,704 in Austin, TX.

  • Glasgow $2,386
  • Austin, TX $2,704

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,604 in Glasgow versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Glasgow $3,604
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,823 in Glasgow versus $5,562 in Austin, TX.

  • Glasgow $4,823
  • Austin, TX $5,562

Living in Glasgow costs roughly 12% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Glasgow 78% above, Austin, TX 102% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Glasgow
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.99 £15.87
$20.22 $20.22
3.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.5 £55.6
$85.0 $85.0
-13.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.55 £7.98
$12.35 $12.35
-14.57%
Cappuccino
$4.87 £3.68
$5.47 $5.47
-10.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 £1.61
$3.82 $3.82
-44.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 £1.31
$2.50 $2.50
-30.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.19 £3.93
$8.06 $8.06
-35.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.65 £5.03
$8.99 $8.99
-26.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Glasgow
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 £1.24
$1.13 $1.13
45.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 £1.18
$3.78 $3.78
-58.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 £1.55
$3.25 $3.25
-36.92%
Eggs
$3.80 £2.88
$4.14 $4.14
-8.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.16 £6.93
$13.08 $13.08
-29.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.00 £6.81
$14.31 $14.31
-37.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.75 £12.66
$15.96 $15.96
4.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 £2.26
$4.38 $4.38
-31.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 £1.18
$1.45 $1.45
6.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 £2.24
$4.54 $4.54
-34.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.13 £2.36
$4.19 $4.19
-25.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 £1.44
$2.63 $2.63
-27.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.60 £1.21
$2.36 $2.36
-32.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 £0.86
$1.76 $1.76
-35.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 £1.23
$2.16 $2.16
-24.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.66 £17.88
$9.81 $9.81
141.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 £8.42
$14.72 $14.72
-24.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.27 £2.48
$2.78 $2.78
17.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 £2.59
$3.48 $3.48
-1.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Glasgow
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.07 £3.08
$1.49 $1.49
173.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$103 £78.1
$40.51 $40.51
155.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.96 £4.51
$2.67 $2.67
123.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.17 £0.89
$1.58 $1.58
-25.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.4 £45.63
$35.29 $35.29
71.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.14 £1.61
$0.99 $0.99
116.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K £29.1K
$35.8K $35.8K
7.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.4K £30.6K
$27.2K $27.2K
48.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Glasgow
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$309 £233
$219 $219
40.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.34 £15.38
$58.0 $58.0
-64.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.92 £31.68
$68.4 $68.4
-38.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Glasgow
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.96 £33.99
$57.9 $57.9
-22.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.43 £15.45
$14.82 $14.82
37.85%
Cinema Ticket
$15.90 £12.02
$14.13 $14.13
12.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Glasgow
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$897 £678
$1,509 $1,509
-40.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.4K £16.2K
$21.5K $21.5K
-0.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Glasgow
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$133 £101
$51.7 $51.7
158.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.49 £35.14
$44.05 $44.05
5.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 £80.5
$85.1 $85.1
25.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.6 £69.3
$105 $105
-13.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Glasgow
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,345 £1,016
$1,932 $1,932
-30.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,052 £795
$1,272 $1,272
-17.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,713 £2,051
$3,670 $3,670
-26.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,955 £1,477
$2,525 $2,525
-22.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,008 £3,030
$7,617 $7,617
-47.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 £2,302
$3,199 $3,199
-4.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Glasgow
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,270 £2,472
$5,105 $5,105
-35.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.76
6.79
-29.90%

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

Last update for Glasgow: October 5, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Glasgow
$1.1K
Austin, TX
$1.3K 20.9% $220
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Glasgow
$371
Austin, TX
$346 6.8% $25
Eating Out
Glasgow
$313
Austin, TX
$348 11.3% $35
Groceries & Markets
Glasgow
$308
Austin, TX
$403 30.6% $94
Clothing & Footwear
Glasgow
$170
Austin, TX
$129 24.3% $41
Getting Around
Glasgow
$131
Austin, TX
$57 56.6% $74
Sport & Entertainment
Glasgow
$77
Austin, TX
$86 12.2% $9.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,345 in Glasgow and $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 56% 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: $74.0 in Glasgow vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $308 vs $403 per month, with Glasgow cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇧 Glasgow
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
01:31 1:31 AM
19:31 7:31 PM
6 h behind Glasgow
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
606,340
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to GBP – British Pound Converter

British Pound exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.756 GBP (1 GBP = 1.32 USD). 1 EUR = 0.848 GBP (1 GBP = 1.18 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
  • Glasgow Austin, TX 7,470 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Glasgow
  • 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
Glasgow vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Glasgow or Austin, TX?
Glasgow wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Glasgow the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Glasgow or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 56% 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 Glasgow compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,345 in Glasgow 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 Glasgow compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $2,386 per month in Glasgow versus $2,704 in Austin, TX – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Glasgow compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Glasgow runs roughly 155% 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 Glasgow or in Austin, TX?
At $2,386 in Glasgow versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Glasgow but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Glasgow the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Glasgow or Austin, TX?
Both work as nomad bases, but Glasgow delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,386 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Glasgow hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Glasgow gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% 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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