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: $1,466 in Harlingen, TX versus $1,757 in Dumfries.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,877 in Harlingen, TX versus $2,755 in Dumfries.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,287 in Harlingen, TX versus $3,754 in Dumfries.

Living in Harlingen, TX costs roughly 17% less than in Dumfries, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Harlingen, TX 7% above, Dumfries 28% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.36 $12.36

$14.66 £10.95

-15.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.21 $46.21

$81.4 £60.8

-43.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 $8.97

$7.90 £5.90

13.54%

Cappuccino

$5.03 $5.03

$4.51 £3.37

11.53%

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

$1.96 $1.96

$2.60 £1.94

-24.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.35 £1.01

50.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.88 $5.88

$5.68 £4.24

3.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.93 £4.43

-24.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.59 £1.19

-36.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 £1.33

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.76 £2.06

Eggs

$3.52 $3.52

$4.45 £3.32

-20.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.89 £5.90

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.51 £7.11

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.36 £11.48

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 £1.83

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$2.25 £1.68

-43.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 £1.76

Tomato (1kg)

$2.91 £2.17

Potato (1kg)

$3.12 £2.33

Onion (1kg)

$2.14 £1.60

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 £1.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 £1.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$24.13 £18.03

Wine (Bottle)

$12.03 £8.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 £2.46

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 £2.41

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.23 £3.16

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$93.4 £69.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 £3.53

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 £0.72

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.10 £9.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.96 £1.46

-50.00%

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

$39.6K £29.6K

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

$41.6K £31.1K

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

$200 $200

$247 £184

-18.94%

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

$99.4 $99.4

$23.31 £17.42

326.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.45 $49.45

$43.23 £32.31

14.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.7 £38.63

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.44 £20.51

Cinema Ticket

$13.70 £10.24

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

$1,952 £1,458

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.5K £16.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.0 £61.3

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 £40.52

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 £95.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 £68.1

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$844 $844

$622 £465

35.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 $875

$545 £407

60.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 $1,419

$1,027 £767

38.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 $1,015

$971 £726

4.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,824 $1,824

$5,094 £3,807

-64.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,844 $1,844

$4,011 £2,998

-54.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,121 $4,121

$3,610 £2,698

14.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.41

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

Last update for Harlingen, TX: September 13, 2026

Last update for Dumfries: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $844 in Harlingen, TX and $622 in Dumfries. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Harlingen, TX pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $46.00 in Harlingen, TX vs $81.0 in Dumfries for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $32.00 vs $322 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 Dumfries: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Harlingen, TX is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 14% higher in Harlingen, TX, 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: $844 in Harlingen, TX versus $622 in Dumfries. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 910% higher in Dumfries. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Harlingen, TX – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $81.0 in Dumfries. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,466 in Harlingen, TX versus $1,757 in Dumfries, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Harlingen, TX but tight or insufficient in Dumfries. 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 20% less than in Dumfries. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.