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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,580 in Harlingen, TX versus $1,785 in Dumfries.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,759 in Harlingen, TX versus $2,755 in Dumfries.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,937 in Harlingen, TX versus $3,725 in Dumfries.

Living in Harlingen, TX is roughly 45% more expensive than Dumfries, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Harlingen, TX 93% above, Dumfries 33% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 $18.71

$16.45 £12.25

13.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 $74.0

$88.7 £66.1

-16.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.21 $11.21

$7.95 £5.92

41.01%

Cappuccino

$5.18 $5.18

$3.87 £2.88

33.85%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$2.31 £1.72

7.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.34 £1.00

47.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 $6.13

$3.98 £2.96

54.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 $6.96

$5.01 £3.73

38.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.47 £1.10

-31.97%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.49 £1.11

137.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.55 £1.90

71.37%

Eggs

$4.11 $4.11

$3.57 £2.66

15.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$8.07 £6.01

53.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.63 $11.63

$10.03 £7.47

15.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$15.73 £11.72

-3.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.54 £1.89

95.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.35 £1.75

-30.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$2.36 £1.76

75.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.34 £2.49

44.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.13 £1.59

36.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.92 £1.43

43.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.23 £0.91

65.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.77 £1.32

20.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.78 $9.78

$18.72 £13.94

-47.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.79 £8.04

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$3.28 £2.44

-43.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.03 £2.26

12.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$4.23 £3.15

-52.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.6 £73.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 $3.53

$5.56 £4.14

-36.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.60 £1.19

-0.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.02 $29.02

$14.04 £10.46

106.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.87 £1.39

-51.34%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$38.3K £28.6K

-23.49%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$41.3K £30.8K

-38.46%

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

$189 $189

$234 £174

-19.01%

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

$53.4 $53.4

$14.59 £10.87

265.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$47.77 £35.59

40.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.19 $42.19

$50.9 £37.89

-17.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.02 £20.13

Cinema Ticket

$13.52 $13.52

$12.97 £9.66

4.24%

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

$1,323 $1,323

$1,614 £1,202

-18.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$16.1K £12.0K

46.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 $51.3

$94.7 £70.6

-45.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.27 $40.27

$57.2 £42.58

-29.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 $88.1

$131 £97.7

-32.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$119 £88.8

-5.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 $1,604

$633 £472

153.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 $1,329

$554 £413

140.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,591 $2,591

$1,020 £760

153.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,217 $2,217

$965 £719

129.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,843 $1,843

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,869 $1,869

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,164 $4,164

$3,570 £2,660

16.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

5.45

19.45%

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

Last update for Harlingen, TX: June 1, 2026

Last update for Dumfries: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Harlingen, TX and $633 in Dumfries. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Harlingen, TX pays 17% 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 $89.0 in Dumfries. Groceries flip the comparison at $360 vs $309, with Dumfries cheaper for home cooking.

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 Dumfries: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dumfries is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Harlingen, TX pays 17% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Harlingen, TX versus $633 in Dumfries. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Harlingen, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,580 per month in Harlingen, TX versus $1,785 in Dumfries – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,785 in Dumfries versus $2,580 in Harlingen, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Dumfries but tight or insufficient in Harlingen, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Dumfries 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 Dumfries gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Harlingen, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.