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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,580 in Harlingen, TX versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,759 in Harlingen, TX versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,937 in Harlingen, TX versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Harlingen, TX costs roughly 3% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Harlingen, TX 93% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 $18.71

$19.63 $19.63

-4.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 $74.0

$75.1 $75.1

-1.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.21 $11.21

$9.92 $9.92

13.00%

Cappuccino

$5.18 $5.18

$5.67 $5.67

-8.64%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$2.77 $2.77

-10.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.17 $2.17

-8.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 $6.13

$5.84 $5.84

4.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 $6.96

$7.77 $7.77

-10.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.09 $1.09

-8.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.41 $3.41

3.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.43 $3.43

27.41%

Eggs

$4.11 $4.11

$4.39 $4.39

-6.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$11.95 $11.95

3.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.63 $11.63

$10.76 $10.76

8.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$14.29 $14.29

6.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.84 $4.84

2.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.55 $1.55

5.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$4.46 $4.46

-7.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.91 $3.91

23.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.74 $2.74

6.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.74 $2.74

0.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.25 $2.25

-5.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.78 $9.78

$8.93 $8.93

9.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.35 $2.35

-21.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.57 $3.57

-4.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.47 $1.47

38.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.28 $4.28

-17.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.84 $1.84

-13.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.02 $29.02

$35.54 $35.54

-18.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.72 $0.72

26.39%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$25.7K $25.7K

14.07%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.82%

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

$189 $189

$174 $174

8.97%

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

$53.4 $53.4

$60.2 $60.2

-11.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$66.3 $66.3

1.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.19 $42.19

$62.8 $62.8

-32.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$13.52 $13.52

$15.24 $15.24

-11.29%

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

$1,323 $1,323

$1,387 $1,387

-4.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$22.2K $22.2K

6.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 $51.3

$56.7 $56.7

-9.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.27 $40.27

$45.34 $45.34

-11.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 $88.1

$86.5 $86.5

1.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$119 $119

-4.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 $1,604

$2,247 $2,247

-28.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 $1,329

$1,430 $1,430

-7.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,591 $2,591

$3,778 $3,778

-31.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,217 $2,217

$2,641 $2,641

-16.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,843 $1,843

$7,044 $7,044

-73.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,869 $1,869

$3,162 $3,162

-40.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,164 $4,164

$5,108 $5,108

-18.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.45

0.93%

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

Last update for Harlingen, TX: June 1, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Harlingen, TX and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 23% 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 Harlingen, TX vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $360 vs $377 per month, with Harlingen, TX cheaper across the board.

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 3% 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, Austin, TX earns 23% less. 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: $1,604 in Harlingen, TX versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,323 in Harlingen, TX versus $1,387 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Harlingen, TX – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Harlingen, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 3% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.