Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Harlingen, TX and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Harlingen, TX: $1,492 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $14,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

128

Cost of Living Index in Harlingen, TX
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Harlingen, TX Living Index
130

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

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Harlingen, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$1,492

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,492 in Harlingen, TX versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Harlingen, TX $1,492
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,876 in Harlingen, TX versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Harlingen, TX $1,876
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,259 in Harlingen, TX versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Harlingen, TX $2,259
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Harlingen, TX costs roughly 44% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Harlingen, TX 11% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.27 $12.27

$20.77 $20.77

-40.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.71 $46.71

$84.6 $84.6

-44.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.11 $9.11

$12.32 $12.32

-26.06%

Cappuccino

$4.99 $4.99

$5.63 $5.63

-11.37%

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

$2.00 $2.00

$3.72 $3.72

-46.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.50 $2.50

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.03 $6.03

$8.05 $8.05

-25.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 $4.54

$9.01 $9.01

-49.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.12 $1.12

-14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

Eggs

$3.52 $3.52

$4.17 $4.17

-15.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.46 $1.46

-9.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.95 $0.95

8.42%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

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

$27.1K $27.1K

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

$199 $199

$229 $229

-13.08%

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

$99.1 $99.1

$59.4 $59.4

66.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.44 $49.44

$69.9 $69.9

-29.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

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

$1,506 $1,506

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$836 $836

$1,907 $1,907

-56.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$873 $873

$1,274 $1,274

-31.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,385 $1,385

$3,664 $3,664

-62.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 $1,015

$2,538 $2,538

-60.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,886 $1,886

$7,614 $7,614

-75.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,869 $1,869

$3,157 $3,157

-40.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,030 $4,030

$5,121 $5,121

-21.31%

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 Harlingen, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Harlingen, TX

$873 58.5%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 46% $401

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Harlingen, TX

$348 23.3%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 3.1% $11

Eating Out

Harlingen, TX

$241 16.1%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 47.1% $113

Groceries & Markets

Harlingen, TX

$32 * 2.1%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 1178% $373

Getting Around

Harlingen, TX

- * 0%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

Sport & Entertainment

Harlingen, TX

- * 0%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Clothing & Footwear

Harlingen, TX

- * 0%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $836 in Harlingen, TX and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 27% 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: $47.00 in Harlingen, TX vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $32.00 vs $405 per month, with Harlingen, TX cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Harlingen, TX

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

23:32 11:32 PM

Same time as Harlingen, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

71,829

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Harlingen, TX Austin, TX 450 km

From you

Harlingen, TX
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

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

Harlingen, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 78% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Harlingen, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 27% 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: $836 in Harlingen, TX versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,492 per month in Harlingen, TX versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1178% higher in Austin, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,492 in Harlingen, TX versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Harlingen, TX but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Harlingen, TX 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.

Expats usually find Harlingen, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.